Registered Respiratory Therapist

CommonSpirit Health•Lexington, KY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Saint Joseph Hospital, founded in 1877, is a 433-bed hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, committed to providing compassionate care to the underserved. It is recognized as a 2024 Best Place to Work in Kentucky and is part of CommonSpirit Health, a non-profit Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. This role involves functioning as an integrated member of the respiratory care team, performing services consistent with the scope of licensure and supporting the organization's mission and values.

Requirements

Equivalent of an Associate’s Degree in Cardiopulmonary Services or Respiratory Care from an accredited respiratory therapy educational program.
KY RRT License
BLS-CPR Certification
ACLS Certification within 3 months
Skilled in interpersonal communication to effectively interact with patients, visitors, and members of the healthcare team.
Possesses critical thinking skills adequate to evaluate patient conditions and recommend appropriate intervention or seek assistance.
Possesses time management skills sufficient to organize scheduled tasks to ensure delivery of high-quality respiratory care.
Communicate in English at the twelfth-grade level (speaking, reading, and writing).
Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members, and co-workers with a customer service focus and positive language principles.
Possesses basic rationale in communicating therapeutic needs.
Ability to work independently, handle challenging procedures and patient care situations, demonstrates sound judgment, and executes above-average clinical skills.
Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills.
Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision, including organizing work flow and actively participating in problem-solving.
Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems including Hospital / Respiratory Information Systems and Office software.

Nice To Haves

Preceptor supervision will be required during onboarding and orientation.
The therapist should be able to independently carry out all respiratory therapy procedures at completion of orientation.
Critical care competencies may require additional education and training (i.e. intubation, arterial line insertions). Once these competencies are completed the employee is able to independently perform the procedures.

Responsibilities

Plans and administers non-medicated aerosol and humidity therapy.
Plans and administers oxygen therapy (including implementation of oxygen therapy protocol where appropriate).
Plans and administers aerosolized medication and specialty gas therapy.
Plans and administers COPD care program.
Performs airway management.
Plans and administers incentive spirometry.
Cleans and reprocesses respiratory therapy equipment and stocks supplies for immediate use.
Plans and administers bronchial hygiene and performs chest physiotherapy (including implementation of bronchial hygiene protocol where appropriate).
Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation and manual ventilation during resuscitation attempts and aides in rapid response calls when appropriate.
Collects, analyzes and reports arterial blood samples.
Operates mechanical ventilators (invasive and non-invasive) and manages ventilator settings and weaning per protocols and provider orders.
Performs electrocardiography studies.
Performs bedside pulmonary function testing.
Performs overnight pulse oximetry.
Serves as a preceptor to newly hired employees and/or respiratory therapy students when called upon.
Serves in the charge respiratory therapist role when called upon.
Assists in research projects as directed by departmental and facility leadership when called upon.
Provides patient, family, hospital staff and physician education as appropriate.
Attends staff or hospital meetings as required and participates on committees as directed.
Performs other duties, within the scope of licensure, as assigned by management.