Respiratory Therapist (RRT) - Southside Medical Center

About the position

The Respiratory Care Practitioner is responsible for providing respiratory care through patient assessment, planning, intervention, education and evaluation. Performs all respiratory care procedures including but not limited to oxygen and aerosolized medication delivery, ventilator care, bronchial hygiene therapy, diagnostic services and patient and staff education. Monitors the patient's response to such therapies and makes recommendations to change or modify based on the assessment.

Responsibilities

• May provide clinical instruction and/or in-service training to department staff, other healthcare team members, and students.
• Provides support to clinical learning through mentorship, clinical rounds and practice evaluation provides clinical leadership for the advancement of professional respiratory practice to staff in the intensive care, general care, and outpatient services.
• Provides feedback for coaching and performance evaluations of team members.
• Assists with identifying quality improvement initiatives and design programs that provide measurable outcomes.
• Leads clinical research initiatives ensuring education, training, and implementation of the study design.
• May be responsible for data collection and accurate record keeping as well as product evaluation and assessment.
• Actively participates in facility councils and committees.
• Serves as the shift 'Charge Therapist' with responsibility of ensuring adequate number of respiratory care staff to cover patient care areas and needs.
• May assist physician performing procedures such as bronchoscopy, transtracheal catheter insertion, tracheotomy in intubation.
• Performs CPR including closed chest compressions and airway management techniques in accordance with the AHA ACLS protocol.
• Conducts prescribed therapeutic procedures to achieve maintenance of a patient airway.
• Selects, assembles, monitors and evaluates mechanical ventilators for proper function and operation.
• May perform pulmonary function tests (PFT).
• Serves as a preceptor to new team members and/or students.
• Assesses patient's physical status by inspection, palpation, auscultation, percussion, patient behavior and reviewing existing data in patient's record.
• Performs treatments according to physician orders, explains therapy and therapeutic goals to patient; modifies treatment procedures based on patient response.
• Determines appropriateness of prescribed therapy and recommends methods to physician to achieve therapeutic goals.
• Sets up and maintains different modes of oxygen therapy.
• Administers intermittent positive pressure breathing (IPPB) or Aerosol Therapy.
• Gives postural drainage, vibration, percussion to ensure proper drainage of bronchial secretions.
• Instructs patients and families in incentive spirometer, metered dose inhaler (MDI) administration, postural drainage and clapping, oxygen therapy, ventilator care and home aerosol therapy.
• Procurement of sputum for culture and sensitivity or airway clearance.
• Evaluates normal and pathologic blood and urine laboratory value ranges.
• Performs arterial punctures and analysis; has an in-depth knowledge of analysis and arterial blood gas (ABG) interpretation.
• May perform EKG’s; understands electronic monitoring, lead placement, and basic arrhythmias.
• Maintains all Respiratory Therapy equipment and supplies.
• Responds to cardio-pulmonary resuscitations and actively participates as indicated by clinical circumstances.

Requirements

• Graduate of an AMA approved school for Respiratory Care (required)
• Current Respiratory Care License in the state they are working (required)
• National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) credentialed (required)
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) (required)
• BLS Basic Life Support - American Heart Association (required)
• ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support - American Heart Association or Red Cross (required)
• PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support - American Heart Association (required)
• Two years of experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist or five years CRT; and demonstrated Clinical Competency in at least two of the following environments: Nursery/NICU, PICU, ICU/CCU, ED, and general care areas. (required)

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's Degree, Related to Respiratory Therapy/Health care/Healthcare Admin/Business Admin (preferred)
• Master's Degree, Related to Health care/Healthcare Admin/Business Admin (preferred)
• NRP (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) - AAP/AWHONN (preferred)
• Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) (preferred)
• Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) (preferred)
• ACCS (Adult Critical Care Specialist) - NBRC (preferred)

Benefits

• Comprehensive, affordable medical, dental and vision plans
• Prescription drug coverage
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life insurance w/AD&D
• Employer contributions to retirement savings plan when eligible
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance