Respiratory Therapist Certified

Shenandoah Medical Center•Shenandoah, IA

44d•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves initiating, conducting, modifying, and monitoring respiratory care treatment plans for patients. Responsibilities include administering medications, managing respiratory equipment, performing diagnostic tests, and providing emergency care. The position requires effective communication with healthcare team members and a strong focus on patient and staff safety.

Requirements

Certified Respiratory Therapist
Ability to initiate, conduct, modify, and monitor respiratory care treatment plans.
Ability to determine treatment requirements, including type, method, duration, precautions, medication, and dosages.
Ability to explain treatment procedures to patients.
Ability to schedule and conduct Pulmonary Function Testing.
Ability to assess and review patient conditions.
Ability to administer respiratory therapy medications via nebulizers and aerosols.
Ability to administer inhaled bronchodilators, corticosteroids, leukotriene inhibitors, and antiasthmatic aerosols.
Ability to administer and monitor oxygen therapy.
Ability to monitor patient's oxygen levels in the blood.
Ability to provide respiratory therapy modalities within the scope of practice.
Ability to conduct cardiopulmonary function tests.
Ability to perform Percussion and bronchopulmonary drainage.
Ability to instruct patients in breathing exercises.
Ability to obtain and analyze blood specimens for blood gases and co-oximetry.
Ability to provide emergency care, including artificial respiration and assistance with CPR.
Ability to perform endotracheal and tracheal suctioning.
Ability to perform pulmonary function testing.
Ability to provide resuscitation and support services to high-risk deliveries.
Ability to provide cardiac stress testing and pharmacologic stress testing.
Ability to assist in CPR as part of the Trauma Team.
Ability to perform airway management, intubation, manual resuscitation, and arterial blood gas sampling and analysis.
Ability to draw ABGs.
Ability to perform EKGs.
Ability to set up equipment and manage patients requiring invasive and noninvasive ventilation (BIPAP and CPAP).
Ability to inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment.
Ability to educate patients and families about conditions and disease management techniques.
Ability to place patients on ventilators.
Skill in the use of equipment relevant to the position.
Ability to diagnose equipment problems.
Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively with other health team members.
Ability to follow approved shift report format.
Ability to identify and recognize abnormal symptoms/changes in patient condition.
Ability to establish priorities and take appropriate action.
Ability to report condition changes to medical provider.
Ability to administer medications, treatments, and procedures in a timely and safe manner.
Proficiency in standard precautions, using two patient identifiers, and performing patient risk assessments.
Ability to utilize proper body mechanics, transfer/lifting techniques.
Ability to implement infectious disease controls, including isolation procedures, hand washing, and glove use.
Ability to follow proper procedures for disposal of sharps and hazardous materials.

Responsibilities

Initiates, conducts, modifies, and monitors respiratory care treatment plans, including therapeutic, diagnostic, monitoring, and rehabilitation based on healthcare provider approved protocols and written physician orders.
Determines requirements for treatment, such as type, method, and duration of therapy, precautions, and medication and dosages, compatible with healthcare provider orders.
Explains treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
Schedules and conducts Pulmonary Function Testing as ordered by the healthcare provider.
Assesses and reviews patient conditions and reports any adverse response to treatments to Registered Nurse, Director - Respiratory Therapy and Sleep Lab, or Health Care Provider.
Administers respiratory therapy medications via hand held nebulizers and large volume aerosols.
Administers inhaled bronchodilators, corticosteroids, leukotriene inhibitors, and antiasthmatic aerosols using both metered dose inhalers and nebulizers.
Administers the proper amounts of oxygen to patients and monitors patient’s oxygen levels in the patient’s blood, working with the healthcare provider to provide and adjust treatment accordingly.
Provides Respiratory Therapy modalities within the respiratory therapy scope of practice.
Conducts tests, such as Zio patches and stress testing, to evaluate patient’s cardiopulmonary function.
Performs Percussion and bronchopulmonary drainage and assists or instructs patients in performance of breathing exercises.
Provides services to obtain and analyze blood specimens for blood gases and co-oximetry.
Provides emergency care, including artificial respiration and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Performs endotracheal and tracheal suctioning as needed to maintain airway patency.
Provides pulmonary function testing, including airway mechanics, flow-volume loops, diffusion capacity, peak flow measurements, and body box plethysmography data.
Provides resuscitation and support services to all high-risk deliveries.
Provides cardiac stress testing and pharmacologic stress testing.
Assists in CPR as part of Trauma Team, primarily priming airway management, intubation, manual resuscitation, and arterial blood gas sampling and analysis.
Draws ABGs if necessary.
Performs EKGs if necessary.
Provides set up of equipment and management of patients requiring invasive and noninvasive ventilation, including BIPAP and CPAP.
Inspects, cleans, tests, and maintains respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently.
Educates hospitalized, outpatient, and their families about their conditions and teaches appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of aerosol medications and respiratory equipment.
Places patients on ventilators.
Demonstrates skill in use of equipment relevant to position.
Diagnoses equipment problems and informs the appropriate person of problems encountered with repairs or calibration of equipment.
Communicates and collaborates effectively with other health team members regarding patient condition, nursing plan of care, patient satisfaction needs, and recommendations for meeting identified outcomes.
Follows approved shift report format when communicating patient information.
Identifies and recognizes abnormal symptoms/changes in patient condition, establishes priorities, and takes appropriate action.
Appropriately reports condition changes to medical provider.
Performs other duties as assigned.