Pay Period - Bronson Methodist Hospital

Bronson Healthcare•Kalamazoo, MI

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision from the Respiratory Manager and/or Director and in accordance with organizational policies and guidelines, the Registered Respiratory Therapist routinely works in hospital patient-care areas. The therapist follows provider prescriptions and established policies and procedures to initiate and administer respiratory care for patients with cardiopulmonary abnormalities and deficiencies. The role also serves as a resource to providers, nurses, and other hospital team members on advanced respiratory diagnosis and rehabilitation. The position is based at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo and serves patients in the ACC/PICU. It is a full-time, 12-hour night-shift role, scheduled 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., for 36 hours weekly (72 hours per pay period).

Requirements

Associate degree in Respiratory Therapy (AS).
Current Respiratory Therapist license in the State of Michigan.
For employees hired after 2004, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentials are required within one year of hire.
BLS certification within three months of hire; ACLS, PALS, and AAP-NRP certifications within one year of hire, according to site requirements.
For BLH and BSH only: completion of an accredited Respiratory Therapy program (certificate, diploma, or associate degree) and five years of experience.
Ability to demonstrate competencies necessary to provide services appropriate to the ages of the patient population served.
Ability to meet the physical demands described: considerable standing or walking; regularly lifting objects up to 50 pounds; assisting with heavier patient-lifting and moving tasks; occasional stooping, crouching, or kneeling; and moving quickly to obtain equipment and medication during emergencies.
Ability to perform work involving mental and visual fatigue, frequent significant deadlines, and use of a personal computer or CRT for up to 40 percent of the time.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy.

Responsibilities

Provide respiratory therapy and communicate findings to appropriate personnel; evaluate objective and subjective information and discuss conclusions with providers and nurses to address patient problems.
Evaluate invasive and non-invasive blood gases and discuss findings and suggested therapy changes based on ABG results.
Make ventilator recommendations to providers and nursing based on patient evaluation and blood gases.
Verify provider orders are complete and administer therapy accordingly.
Perform age-specific respiratory therapies in accordance with provider orders, protocols, and guidelines.
Explain therapy to patients in terms suited to their age and learning capabilities; assess responses and recommend or make therapy modifications as appropriate.
Administer, assess, and titrate oxygen therapy; notify the Manager, nursing personnel, and providers of adverse patient reactions.
Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation and respond to Code Blue events, providing life support according to applicable BLS, ACLS, NRP, and PALS guidelines and site-specific responsibilities.
Assist providers with tracheal intubation or perform it when competency requirements are met; assist with bedside bronchoscopies, intubations, and extubations.
Maintain and stabilize artificial airways, including endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes, and suction or secure them according to department policy.
Use infant and pediatric resuscitation equipment appropriately in emergencies, including PEEP adaptations and pop-off valves.
Assist with patient and family education alongside the healthcare team.
Perform basic pulmonary function testing, EKGs, arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO2 monitoring, and transcutaneous oximetry according to department procedures.
Perform nasotracheal, endotracheal, and tracheal suctioning and sample collection according to department procedures.
Assist with patient transport by walking, wheelchair, gurney, or crib; may assist with ambulance transports between facilities.
Accurately communicate patient diagnoses and therapy during change-of-shift reports and accurately charge patients for therapies performed.
Supervise and instruct Respiratory Care students, complete the required preceptor course, and help students develop clinical skills.
Work in response to fluctuations in patient census and relative value units; work overtime when necessary and change shift hours to meet department needs.
Maintain and clean respiratory equipment and ensure equipment readiness and supply availability.
Orient and instruct new department personnel, nursing staff, students, and respiratory personnel in Respiratory Care procedures as required.
Attend in-services and online learning, and complete required work and education requirements without prompting from the Manager.
Participate in department and hospital-wide process improvement and quality assurance activities.
Support the hospital's mission, vision, and values and work safely, considering environmental hazards and the safety of patients and staff.
Demonstrate adherence to Bronson customer-service standards and age-specific competencies appropriate to the patient population served.
Participate in self-development, continuing education, mandatory in-services, educational activities, and community service as required.
Perform other related duties as required or assigned according to site-specific responsibilities.