Respiratory Care Practitioner - Registered (CLC) (Days) (Partial 20-39.99 hours)

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)•Webster, TX

About The Position

Provides comprehensive respiratory care services to neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients in accordance with physician orders, established clinical protocols, and departmental policies. Performs advanced respiratory care procedures, including ventilator and airway management and participation in emergency response activities. Exercises clinical judgment within the scope of licensure and credentialing while collaborating with physicians, nursing staff, and interdisciplinary teams. This classification is maintained for incumbent employees credentialed as Registered Respiratory Therapists.

Requirements

Associate degree from a CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care program.
Credentialed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
Licensed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner by the Texas Medical Board.
Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.

Nice To Haves

Experience in acute or critical care.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and/or Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), as required by the assigned clinical area within the defined timeframe.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ respiratory care needs and identify potential and actual diagnoses or care needs, contraindications, and possible complications.
Administer, monitor, and wean mechanical ventilation; make ventilator recommendations based on clinical and technical assessments and laboratory values; and manage airways.
Transport patients within and outside UTMB.
Initiate, evaluate, and review multidisciplinary respiratory care plans that include appropriate preventive action.
Set up and maintain respiratory equipment.
Maintain inventories and supplies for oxygen, humidity, and aerosol therapy equipment.
Perform blood gas analysis and respiratory function tests.
Participate in patient rounds.
Provide respiratory care instruction to patients and families.
Assist in training and evaluating students and new employees.
Adhere to AIDET guidelines.
Document work promptly, completely, and accurately in patient medical records and department records, and for patient billing.
Assess oxygenation, ventilation, and hemodynamic status using clinical observation, patient assessment, physiologic monitoring, oximetry, capnography, ventilator waveform analysis, cardiac output, ECG, and laboratory values.
Provide respiratory care interventions within the scope of the Rapid Response Team.
Perform CPR.
Perform bedside spirometry, including spontaneous breathing parameters, PEFR, and other limited pulmonary function tests, and identify normal patient values.
Collaborate with other care providers on the plan of care and initiate, evaluate, and review multidisciplinary respiratory care plans.
Participate actively as a member and Team Leader of Rapid Response and Code teams.
Attend neonatal deliveries.
Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills through participation in departmental education programs, such as annual competency assessments.
Provide comprehensive and effective patient and family education and instruction.
May perform advanced competencies in assigned areas, such as high-frequency ventilation, airway pressure release ventilation, heliox therapy, inhaled nitric oxide, and patient transport.
May float to other units or campuses to perform or lead complex procedures in areas such as adult or pediatric PFT/Diagnostics, Adult Critical Care, or Neonatal/Pediatric Critical Care.
Demonstrate thorough knowledge of respiratory equipment setup and maintenance.
Adhere to internal controls and reporting structure.
Perform other duties as assigned.