Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

CASS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER • Harrisonville, MO

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Registered Respiratory Therapist provides care for patients’ cardiac and respiratory needs according to physicians’ orders and departmental policies. The role provides respiratory therapies and testing, monitors patients’ response to treatment, performs assessments and patient education, maintains equipment and supplies, and documents care and charges. The position provides care to patients from birth through geriatric age. It has input into policies associated with the role’s purpose and responsibilities, makes routine decisions about patient needs and oxygen weaning, and identifies adverse reactions to tests or therapy. There is no formal supervisory responsibility. The role involves exposure to blood and body fluids and is primarily performed indoors.

Requirements

• RRT certification by the NBRC.
• BCLS and ACLS required.
• Missouri license required.
• Knowledge of cardiac and respiratory equipment, drugs, patient assessments, and effects of therapy.
• Knowledge of insurance requirements for home-use equipment and patient testing.
• Ability to perform arterial blood gas puncture and analysis, therapy, testing, treatments, universal precautions, and patient assessments.
• Ability to lift up to 100 pounds, with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Administer breathing treatments within one hour of the scheduled time; provide ordered oxygen therapy within fifteen minutes of the scheduled time; initiate mechanical or non-invasive ventilation immediately upon order and evaluate it every two hours; and administer other respiratory procedures within scope of practice on schedule, including stat procedures within fifteen minutes of the stat call.
• Perform EKGs and arterial blood gas tests within one hour of an order or at the time specified; perform daily pulse oximetry for patients on oxygen with titration orders and other oximetry as ordered; and perform other testing modalities within scope, including stat tests within thirty minutes of the stat call.
• Conduct quality control and maintenance on arterial blood gas analyzers, document actions, run ventilator self-tests before use, and submit proficiency testing results quarterly to API.
• Answer telephone calls identifying self and department, document procedures and tests in patient records after completion, complete daily charges by 11:59 p.m., reconcile departmental charges daily, and document read-backs of verbal orders.
• Perform medical gas tank rounds and daily spot checks, replacing tanks as needed; evaluate and stock supplies in the emergency room, medical/surgical unit, ICU, surgery, and respiratory therapy department; report supply needs to the respiratory therapy director; and clean respiratory equipment after use and prepare equipment for subsequent use.
• Provide smoking cessation education within 24 hours of an order, teach patients to use home respiratory equipment when ordered, and educate patients on disease processes within 24 hours of an order.
• Complete an initial assessment within 24 hours of initial respiratory orders, perform the first reassessment three days after the initial assessment, and reassess every three days until discharge.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed