Respiratory Care Practitioner I

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•POLLOK, TX

13d•$5,175 - $7,254•Onsite

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you! The Respiratory Therapist performs complex respiratory therapy work. Work involves initiating and conducting therapeutic procedures, including the application of oxygen and compressed air as directed by physician orders; provides technical assistance in artificial ventilation, tracheostomy care and in conducting pulmonary function tests; consults with physicians, nursing staff, and other medical staff to report individual’s condition, status, progress and responses. Assists physicians, registered therapists, and other medical professional staff in the assessment and updates of respiratory conditions of the residents; prepares daily reports and documents on the Medication Treatment Record and in the Integrated Progress Notes. The Respiratory Therapist provides competency-based training on abdominal breathing exercises and breathing techniques for residents, staff and family members to ensure they are able to demonstrate the skill they are expected to perform; monitors staff performance to ensure knowledge and skill for quality-of-care purposes; maintains and repairs respiratory therapy equipment, and monitors equipment to make sure proper adjustments are made and equipment is cleaned to prevent infections. The Respiratory Therapist attends Interdisciplinary Team Meetings for specific individuals receiving respiratory care therapy, acting as the primary information resource for reporting respiratory condition and therapeutic progress. Works under the general supervision of a physician, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

Knowledge of respiratory therapy principles and techniques, including but not limited to administration of oxygen, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), artificial ventilation and tracheostomy care, respiratory equipment cleaning and changing, oxygen administration, oxygen administration with the Venturi Assembly, oral pharyngeal and nasopharyngeal suctioning, oxygen tank use and maintenance, resuscitation with AmbuBag, small volume nebulizer (SVN) therapy.
Skill in the operation, maintenance, and repair of respiratory therapy equipment, and in the operation of computers and applicable computer software. Advanced skills in ventilator management, patient assessment, and operation of respiratory adjuncts and selection; advanced assessment skills to recognize decline in patient status prior to overall decline in patient condition.
Ability to provide respiratory therapy care, to provide technical assistance in artificial ventilation and tracheostomy care, and in conducting pulmonary function tests; to write accurate and concise clinical documents, to prepare reports, to maintain records, and to communicate effectively at all levels within the facility.
Must be certified as a respiratory care practitioner by the State of Texas.
High school graduate or equivalent is required.
Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state-operated facility.

Nice To Haves

Current Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician (CRTT) issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care is preferred.
Additional coursework in respiratory therapy is generally preferred.
Experience and education may be substituted for one another on a year for year basis.

Responsibilities

Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
Assists physicians, registered therapists, nursing staff and other medical professional staff in the assessment and updates of respiratory conditions of individuals. The position assists the physicians in trying to improve the quality of the resident’s life by keeping their respiratory systems functioning using one or more of the following techniques: provides pressure breathing treatments using ventilators and various oxygen and aerosol devices and administers oxygen and ultrasonic mists as ordered. Provides instruction on abdominal breathing exercises and breathing techniques. Provides technical assistance in artificial ventilation and tracheostomy care and in conducting pulmonary function tests. Performs respiratory physiotherapy techniques, including postural drainage and percussion. Monitors patients’ responses to therapy by reviewing vital signs and measuring and analyzing arterial blood gases and blood chemistry changes. Interprets breathing sounds and applies endotracheal suction.
Implements consistent treatment protocols as directed by physician orders to improve or maintain consumer’s respiratory health risk status or respiratory level of function. Consults with physicians, nursing staff, and other medical staff to report individual’s condition, status, progress and responses as related to current treatment procedures. Prepares and enters documentation daily into the electronic health record.
Performs competency-based training for both residents/patients and staff as it relates to respiratory care and treatment for individuals diagnosed with compromised respiratory conditions to ensure that the nurses, residents, or family members are able to demonstrate the skill they are expected to perform. Respiratory Therapists are responsible for training nurses, residents and their family members. After the nurses, residents/patients and their family members are taught the treatment protocol, or the use of, or the cleaning of equipment then trainee must demonstrate their ability to perform the tasks as outline in the resident Health Care Plan. Direct Support Professionals are responsible for providing assistance in monitoring equipment such as level of oxygen left in oxygen tank, and who to notify when tank needs to be refilled, etc. Nurses also administer treatments in the absence of a RT and must be trained on administration of treatment, use of and cleaning of equipment. Very few residents can be trained but some can be taught simple exercises such as blowing a pinwheel to increase lung volume. Family members that take the resident home must demonstrate that they are competent in providing treatment and use of equipment. Types of equipment used: oxygen tanks, concentrators, BiPAP/CPAP machines, chest compression vests and suctioning equipment.
Monitors individual respiratory treatment programs, collects data to ensure consistency and efficacy of the treatment program and monitors staff performance to ensure knowledge and skill in respiratory care for quality-of-care purposes. Maintains and repairs respiratory therapy equipment to include; set up to ensure proper settings and operating condition; monitoring equipment to make sure the proper adjustments are completed as directed and making sure the equipment is cleaned to prevent infections.
Attends Interdisciplinary Team meetings for specific individuals receiving respiratory care therapy. Acts as the primary information source for reporting respiratory condition and therapeutic progress to the Interdisciplinary Team. Makes recommendations regarding optimal respiratory treatment schedule, required rest periods between activities, meals and treatments and any necessary respiratory exercises to assist with overall lung health.
Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.