Registered Respiratory Therapist NICU

Northside Hospital Inc.•Lawrenceville, GA

About The Position

The Registered Respiratory Therapist independently provides respiratory therapy treatments and procedures in accordance with physician orders, established guidelines, and the scope of practice defined by the Georgia Composite Medical Board. The therapist manages care for an assigned group of patients, including adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients, and patients in adult or neonatal intensive care areas when competency has been completed, following Northside Hospital’s philosophy and policies. The position provides safe, competent respiratory care; assesses patients’ respiratory conditions and treatment needs; recommends or implements appropriate therapies using relevant clinical information; and adapts care to changing patient conditions. Duties also include patient and family interviews, equipment maintenance, safety practices, respiratory procedures and treatments, ventilator operation and transport, and airway and bronchopulmonary hygiene.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited respiratory care program.
Current Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) license from the Georgia Composite Medical Board, in good standing without limitations.
Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification from the American Heart Association.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification from the American Heart Association.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certification from the American Heart Association.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy.
Two years of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate competency in clinical practice, set goals independently for managing complex patients, and adapt care to rapidly changing patient conditions.
Provide safe, competent patient care; stay informed about current respiratory care guidelines; and communicate with peers, colleagues, providers, and others.
Assess patients’ respiratory conditions and treatment needs in accordance with Respiratory Care Protocols, and recommend or implement therapies using clinical information such as vital signs, chest X-rays, and laboratory values.
Interview patients and family members to obtain information related to patient care.
Maintain appropriate levels of functional equipment for departmental use.
Follow hospital and departmental safety policies and promptly report equipment malfunctions, unsafe conditions, and injuries or accidents involving employees, patients, or visitors to the manager.
Perform arterial punctures and interpret blood gas analyses.
Obtain arterial blood samples from indwelling arterial lines.
Perform pulse oximeter checks to evaluate respiratory status.
Deliver oxygen, aerosol, positive pressure breathing, and chest physiotherapy treatments.
Provide tracheostomy care, including suctioning and tube changes.
Initiate and maintain cardiopulmonary resuscitation as needed.
Set up, operate, and maintain ventilators, and transport patients connected to ventilators.
Perform non-invasive oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring and analyze data to assess patient status.
Maintain patient airways and provide bronchopulmonary hygiene.