Respiratory Care Professional 3 - Respiratory Therapy - St. Vincent Medical Center

Mercy Health BSMH•Toledo, OH

About The Position

Provides invasive and non-invasive respiratory care under minimal and indirect supervision. Under physician supervision, evaluates cardiopulmonary function, treats cardiopulmonary impairment, assesses treatment effectiveness, and cares for patients with cardiopulmonary deficiencies and abnormalities. Uses professional judgment in complex technical situations and makes independent decisions. Provides care to neonate, pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients, generally in assigned ICU areas. The role includes performing and documenting prescribed respiratory treatments and diagnostic procedures; assessing treatment appropriateness and patient response; managing airways and mechanical ventilation; obtaining and analyzing blood gases; responding to pre-emergency situations; and assisting physicians with procedures. The Respiratory Care Professional may provide clinical instruction, precept employees and students, fill in as a Team Leader or Charge Therapist, and maintain instructor status in one or more specified life-support programs. This is a collective bargaining unit position. The job also requires compliance with corporate responsibility and infection-control policies, including use of universal precautions and personal protective equipment. Working conditions may include high stress, fluctuating workloads, high noise levels, bright lights, limited exposure to hazardous substances or body fluids, and frequent interruptions.

Requirements

Maintain Healthcare Provider Basic Life Support status through the American Heart Association or its affiliate.
Hold and maintain an active Ohio license to practice Respiratory Care.
Be registered by the National Board of Respiratory Care.
Successfully complete an educational program in Respiratory Therapy approved by the Ohio Respiratory Care Board.
Have one year of experience as a Respiratory Therapist in areas such as emergency airway management, extubation, tracheotomies, and nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways.

Responsibilities

Perform respiratory treatments according to physician orders or protocols, explain therapy and goals to patients, modify procedures based on patient response, and document assessments and therapy.
Assess the appropriateness of prescribed therapy and recommend methods to physicians for achieving therapeutic goals, including aerosol therapy, postural drainage and percussion, incentive spirometry, and metered-dose inhalers.
Manage patient airways, including endotracheal tubes, tracheostomies, and nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways; maintain humidification, aspirate secretions, extubate, maintain cuff pressures, and document procedures.
Perform therapeutic and diagnostic procedures to achieve or document adequate oxygenation, including metering, analyzing, and administering gases.
Obtain and analyze blood gases through arterial or capillary punctures or line draws; record and report results and perform required quality controls.
Accept and transcribe physician orders according to departmental policies and procedures.
Select, assemble, monitor, and evaluate mechanical ventilators; correct malfunctions, maintain cleanliness, and determine suitability for a patient's condition.
Perform procedures to measure ventilation and oxygenation adequacy, including lung-volume measurements and evaluation of oxygen, PEEP/CPAP, and ventilation modes and their effects on patients.
Apply ventilator-weaning protocols and physician orders.
Initiate, perform, and modify respiratory care techniques in pre-emergency situations, including non-invasive mechanical ventilation, ventilator and gas-delivery-system modifications, and airway management, working independently until a physician arrives.
Perform CPR, chest compressions, and airway management in accordance with AHA, ACLS, PALS, or NRP protocols or physician direction.
Assist physicians with bronchoscopy, tracheostomy, intubation, and invasive monitoring procedures.
Provide clinical instruction, direction, and in-service training to department staff, physicians, patients, and allied-health students, including Respiratory Therapy students.
May precept employees, maintain preceptor requirements, and complete related documentation.
May fill in as Team Leader or Charge Therapist, assign work, and facilitate daily duties throughout the shift.
Maintain instructor status in one or more of NRP, ACLS, PALS, and BLS.
Comply with Corporate Responsibility Program standards and policies, applicable laws and regulations, and reporting procedures for suspected unethical, fraudulent, or unlawful acts.
Provide age-appropriate care to patients from neonates through older adults.
Follow infection-control policies and use universal precautions and personal protective equipment.