Provisional Respiratory Therapist

Jackson County Memorial Hospital Authority•Altus, OK

About The Position

The Provisional Respiratory Therapist/Student works under the guidance of a staff respiratory therapist and/or the Respiratory Care supervisor or lead therapist as a member of the healthcare team. The role provides basic respiratory modalities, arterial blood gas procedures, and medically prescribed respiratory care within the scope of a provisional license. Care is provided in routine care areas and may include assistance across emergency, critical care, and acute settings; the job summary specifies that the role excludes critical patients. The position provides hands-on learning and assistance with respiratory care procedures while maintaining patient safety. The therapist assesses patients’ needs and ability to tolerate treatment, evaluates treatment responses, reviews prescriptions and patient information, and determines treatment requirements. The position involves providing ordered respiratory care and non-invasive therapies, administering medications and treatments appropriately for each patient’s age and condition, assisting with airway and ventilation management, and responding to changes in clinical status. It also includes patient and family education, coordination with the care team, cardiopulmonary procedure scheduling, equipment maintenance, documentation, and participation in quality improvement activities. The role requires compliance with hospital policies and protocols, professional communication, safe equipment use, and appropriate patient and family involvement in care planning. The employee must maintain required licensure and certifications, complete annual education, and be available for scheduled on-call duties if needed.

Requirements

Authorization to practice by letter, provisional, or full license as a Respiratory Care Practitioner from the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision.
Achieve Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) status within one year from the date the provisional license is received.
Basic Life Support (BLS) training before providing patient care and maintain current BLS through retraining for the duration of employment.
Maintain ACLS, PALS, and NRP through retraining for the duration of employment.
At least a high school diploma or GED.
Maintain current CPR certifications and state licensure.
Ability to read and communicate effectively in English.
Basic computer knowledge and ability to use or become familiar with equipment and procedures within the scope of practice.
Familiarity with Microsoft Office applications, including Word and Excel.
Previous work history demonstrating steady attendance and punctuality.
Near visual and hearing acuity required to perform essential duties.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position; reasonable accommodations may be made where they do not compromise client care.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ respiratory status, needs, and ability to tolerate treatment; perform focused examinations, interpret breath sounds and airway patency, and reassess responses to treatment.
Read prescriptions, review patient information, draw arterial blood gases, and determine treatment requirements.
Provide respiratory care and non-invasive therapies as ordered by physicians and according to established standards and practices, including oxygen support, aerosolized medications, airway-clearance techniques, and other treatments.
Operate respiratory care equipment and perform procedures and protocols within the department’s scope of practice; select equipment and procedures based on patient demographics, symptoms, and collected data.
Administer medications and treatments appropriately for the patient’s age and clinical condition, following hospital policy, procedures, and protocols.
Assist with artificial airway placement, initiate and adjust non-invasive ventilation, monitor patient responses, and respond to clinical changes or emergencies.
Perform electrocardiograms and other assigned cardiopulmonary procedures; schedule inpatient and outpatient cardiopulmonary procedures.
Educate patients and families, develop teaching plans based on identified learning needs, and evaluate the effectiveness of teaching.
Partner with physicians, nurses, and other care-team members; coordinate and direct patient care, communicate changes in condition and treatment responses, and help stabilize newborns during deliveries when needed.
Clean, disinfect, store, set up, operate, and inspect respiratory equipment; ensure equipment is safe and functioning, maintain readiness and preventive maintenance, and restock supplies.
Transport ventilated patients safely and follow infection-prevention standards.
Perform delegated tasks and data collection taught and verified during the course of study.
Maintain accurate records, reports, logs, and documentation in accordance with current standards and policies.
Treat patients and families with respect and dignity and involve them in the plan of care as appropriate.
Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities and maintain effective working relationships within and outside the department.
Complete annual education requirements, maintain regulatory requirements and current knowledge, attend staff meetings as appropriate, follow dress and identification requirements, use the computerized timekeeping system correctly, and report to work on time and as scheduled.
Be available on call if needed and scheduled.