RRT

Covenant Health•Sevierville, TN

About The Position

The Registered Respiratory Therapist provides care to patients with respiratory insufficiency and related complications. As part of the direct patient-care team, the therapist supports overall quality care and serves as a resource and specialist to patients, caregivers, and physicians. The position may require exercising clinical judgment under the order of a licensed physician. The role performs respiratory therapy and age-specific patient care, including emergency response, patient assessment and treatment, mechanical ventilation, CPAP and BiPAP, arterial blood gas procedures and analysis, equipment quality control, troubleshooting, and documentation. The therapist also supports equipment readiness, regulatory and department requirements, quality improvement, and the orientation and training of respiratory employees and students.

Requirements

Documented experience necessary to obtain a Tennessee state license.
Valid Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care.
Licensed as a registered Respiratory Therapist by the State of Tennessee Health Related Boards, with ABG endorsement.
Current BLS.
A current work permit is acceptable under state regulations; it is valid for one year. New registry-eligible graduates hired as an RRT have one year, or until the work permit expires, to pass the NBRC RRT exam and obtain the credential. Failure to obtain the credential within that period results in reclassification to CRT with an appropriate pay adjustment.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate respiratory care competency in critical and clinical skills annually.
Perform all aspects of respiratory therapy and age-specific patient care safely and competently.
Assess, identify, and treat patient health conditions in accordance with organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
Make safe, effective, and competent decisions regarding individual patient care, exercising sound judgment.
Respond to emergency situations according to department standards, policies, procedures, and protocols, and assume a leadership role during emergencies.
Demonstrate competency in mechanical ventilation, CPAP, and BiPAP, including current ventilation modes, indications for use, and related calculations.
Perform arterial blood gas procedures and analysis according to department policy and procedure.
Complete quality control, troubleshooting, and quality assurance activities in accordance with department policies and procedures.
Use assigned equipment with skill and accuracy; keep equipment clean and functioning, and maintain its location and inventory.
Communicate appropriately with nursing personnel, physicians, and other hospital staff, using professional, tactful communication across socioeconomic levels.
Complete accurate, timely, and legible documentation and charges, including patient assessments, reassessments, education, goals, response to therapy, and other medical-record requirements.
Complete quality control procedures and documentation required by regulatory agencies and medical center and department policies.
Participate in performance improvement and quality improvement activities, including suggestions for improvements and data collection and analysis as appropriate.
Follow policies, procedures, and safety standards; complete required annual education assignments and work toward goals and objectives.
Assist with orientation and training of newly hired respiratory employees and precept respiratory students.
Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.