Lead Respiratory Therapist RT Full Time

Vibra Travels•Abilene, TX

About The Position

The Lead Respiratory Therapist is responsible for setting up and operating respiratory care equipment used to diagnose and treat respiratory disease or illness. The role ensures patients receive appropriate respiratory care and that respiratory therapists follow applicable policies and procedures. The position provides care to adult and geriatric patients aged 18 and over, and requires respectful, professional interactions and appropriate documentation of treatments, patient responses, and patient education. The Lead Respiratory Therapist performs prescribed respiratory treatments, operates and monitors ventilators, participates in ventilator weaning, supports ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and intubates as necessary. Duties also include tracheostomy care and tube changes, equipment processing and maintenance, respiratory rounds, diagnostic studies and blood gas analysis, and assisting patients with preparation for therapy, ambulation, or transport. The role reports patient and treatment information to relief staff and keeps the primary care nurse informed of changes and new orders. The employee must comply with hospital and departmental policies, safety and patient safety practices, bloodborne pathogen and hazardous materials procedures, privacy requirements, attendance policy, and the Hospital Compliance Plan. The Lead Respiratory Therapist also participates in departmental meetings, in-services, and performance improvement activities, and follows procedures for recognizing and reporting suspected patient abuse. The role supervises Respiratory Therapists. The work environment typically has a moderate noise level. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds and regularly stand, walk, use hands, reach, talk, and hear. Required vision abilities include close and distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and adjusting focus.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Respiratory Therapy program.
Current license to practice as a Respiratory Therapist or Respiratory Practitioner in the state of employment.
BLS certification upon hire; the qualifications section specifies obtaining BLS within 30 days of hire.
Obtain ACLS certification within 90 days of employment.
Maintain licenses and certifications for the duration of employment.
Basic computer and word-processing skills.
Ability to perform the essential duties satisfactorily, with reasonable accommodations where applicable.

Nice To Haves

Previous hospital experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Ensure patients receive appropriate respiratory care and respiratory therapists follow policy and procedure.
Provide respiratory care to adult and geriatric patients aged 18 and over while respecting each patient's rights, dignity, and individuality.
Explain treatments, tests, and equipment to patients and document education provided to patients and caregivers.
Conduct physician-prescribed respiratory treatments, including handheld nebulizer therapy, oxygen and humidity delivery, and chest physical therapy.
Set up, operate, and monitor ventilators; participate in ventilator weaning under protocols and physician direction; and adjust ventilator setup to meet patient needs.
Maintain ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intubate as necessary.
Document treatments and patient responses in respiratory care records and patient charts, and place medication administration records in the chart in proper order.
Perform tracheostomy care and change tracheostomy tubes as necessary under hospital policy, documenting changes in respiratory progress notes.
Change tubing, inline suction devices, and suction canisters according to hospital policy and procedure.
Report planned treatments and patient conditions to relief personnel, provide a complete report of changes and new orders, and keep the patient's primary care nurse informed.
Process respiratory therapy equipment, including ENT and bronchoscope equipment, by cleaning, sterilizing, and packaging it as required; prepare scopes for transport and ensure Cidex OPA is functional with a test strip from the last 24 hours.
Perform preventive maintenance and equipment repairs, complete ventilator EST and SST pre-use checks before each use or as needed, and document checks in the cleaning log.
Make regular rounds; check ventilators at least every four hours and oxygen equipment at least once per shift; fill room humidifiers, change suction canisters daily, and spot-check other equipment per policy.
Perform and evaluate arterial and venous blood gas analysis, demonstrate competency with blood gas devices, and maintain annual continuing education related to laboratory practices.
Assist with preparing respiratory care and ventilator patients for physical therapy, ambulation, and transport; store oxygen tanks according to OSHA and hospital guidelines.
Attend monthly Respiratory Care department and general staff meetings and in-services.
Follow the Hospital Compliance Plan, report suspected violations, comply with hospital and departmental policies, attendance requirements, safety programs, bloodborne pathogen precautions, and hazardous-material procedures.
Recognize patient abuse and follow policy for appropriate referrals or interventions.
Participate in Performance Improvement activities.
Limit access to protected health information to what is reasonably necessary for the job and share it only on a need-to-know basis for work purposes.
Perform other incidental and related duties as required or assigned.
Supervise Respiratory Therapists.