Registered Respiratory Therapist

West Tennessee Healthcare

21h•Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for performing routine Respiratory Care procedures, mechanical ventilation management, treatments, and patient assessments as ordered by physicians. The role involves providing care to newborn, pediatric, and adult patients. The employee will be subject to call back and overtime as required by the hospital. Key functions include responding to patient emergencies and CPR, performing airway management, monitoring mechanically ventilated patients, administering medical gas therapy, and conducting special procedures such as intubations, arterial punctures, blood gas analysis, EKGs, and Holter monitors. The therapist will also assist with patient transports, perform patient assessments, document treatments, assist with student clinical education, maintain equipment and supplies, and participate in departmental Performance Improvement, Quality Action, Quality Improvement teams, and Discharge Planning Committee meetings. Managing departmental orders and entering charges are also part of the responsibilities.

Requirements

Associates or Bachelor’s Degree in Respiratory Therapy.
Certified in basic Cardiac Life Support by AHA or the equivalent.
Graduate from an AMA school.
Certified or Registered by NBRC.
BCLS through AHA.
Tennessee state license with ABG certification or an Active Tennessee state work permit.
If utilizing an Active Tennessee state work permit, applicant must obtain license within 6 months.
Proficiency in current practices and techniques of Respiratory Care and the knowledge of departmental and hospital policies and procedures a required through orientation and completion of departmental skills checklist.
Skill and proficiency training in the principles, concepts, and techniques of the respiratory Care profession for providing care for adult, geriatric, adolescent, pediatric, and newborn patients.

Nice To Haves

BCLS instructor certification
ACLS certification
PALS certification

Responsibilities

Responds to patient emergencies and CPR and performs airway management.
Monitors patients receiving mechanical ventilation, evaluates response and forwards recommendations for changes to physician. Makes changes accordingly.
Administers medical gas therapy.
Performs routine and some special procedures, such as intubations, arterial puncture, blood gas analysis, EKG’s and holter monitors.
Assists with patient transports to another facility when ordered by physician.
Performs patient assessments and makes recommendations for Respiratory Therapy and care plan to meet department goals. Forwards recommendations to committees.
Documents patient treatments and procedures in patient charts, completes all Departmental records and log books.
Assists with the clinical education of students as needed.
Performs equipment cleaning and sterilization.
Maintains supplies in assigned areas.
Performs ventilator set up and testing.
Performs calibration of PFT machine, performs PFT’s and peak flow measurements.
Ability to calibrate, trouble shoot and operate AVL-995 blood gas analyzer.
Actively participates in the department’s Performance Improvement activities.
Participation in Quality Action and Quality Improvement teams as assigned.
Participates in Discharge Planning Committee meetings as assigned.
Ability to manage orders received for department services and to enter departmental charges for services performed.