Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

SSM Health • Saint Louis, MO

1d • Onsite

About The Position

SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, a LEVEL 1 Time Critical Diagnosis hospital in Stroke, Trauma and STEMI, is at the forefront of ground-breaking medical treatments, procedures, clinical trials and comprehensive patient care. We are seeking a Registered Respiratory Therapist to join our team and are pleased to extend a $20,000 Sign on Bonus to new, external candidates! This role involves performing all respiratory care diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The ideal candidate should be energetic and motivated to support the success of a growing service.

Requirements

• Graduate of an AMA approved school Respiratory Therapy preferred.
• Registered with the N.B.R.C
• Licensed in the state of Missouri within 6 months of hire required.
• Must demonstrate the ability to provide high quality therapy skills with moderate supervision and to make independent decisions in critical and non-critical care areas.
• Individuals must be energetic and motivated to support the success of a growing service.
• Capable of withstanding long hours of walking and standing.
• Capable of tolerating the sights and sounds and odors associated with the care of the sick and dying patients.
• Capable of responding quickly in emergencies.
• Capable of lifting moderate weights.
• Capable of handling hazards due to exposure to inflammable and explosive gases.
• Eye protection
• Gowns
• Lab coat
• Mask
• Sterile and non-sterile gloves
• Lead aprons
• Demonstrate a desire and willingness to provide comfort and aid to patients.
• Cooperative and friendly to all personnel.
• Present a professional demeanor at all times.
• Always consult supervisor/senior tech when confronted with unusual situations.
• Must be familiar with equipment used for therapy and diagnostic procedures.
• Heavy Physical effort (lift, carry up to 50 lbs.)
• Prolonged, extensive, or considerable standing/walking.
• Lifts, positions, pushes, and/or transfers patients.
• Pushes/pulls or moves/lifts heavy equipment/supplies.
• Manual dexterity, mobility, and fine motor skills.
• Intermittent exertion when performing therapies.
• Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching
• Ability to adjust vision for varying degrees of room light.
• Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA)
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) - National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
• Respiratory Care Practitioner - Missouri Division of Professional Registration

Nice To Haves

• Leadership skills are desirable and should be demonstrated.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate ability to relate to coworkers in a professional and respectful manner, in order to assure and promote a culture of safety.
• Performs all respiratory related therapeutic and diagnostic maneuvers in accordance with established policies and procedures of the department. This shall include: Implementing and assessing the function of oxygen and therapeutic gas; Ensuring proper set-up and implementation of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures; Providing aerosolized medication; Providing CPT and IPV; Setting up and monitoring ventilators in accordance with department and hospital policies; Communicating with peers and staff to develop and improve inter- and intradepartmental services; Meeting with appropriate personnel to address and resolve problem issues; Performing CPR; Performing diagnostic procedures including ABG analysis, Pulse Oximetry, and Nitric Oxide pulmonary hypertension studies.
• The licensed respiratory therapist will ensure that each patient’s status is assessed to determine the patient’s care needs and to ensure patient’s needs are reassessed in response to treatment and care provided. This includes assessing and reassessing patients for therapy which includes but is not limited to: Vital signs before and after therapy; Breath sounds before and after therapy; Checking for physician orders for therapy; Pre and post assessment for therapy tolerance and response; Oxygen requirements; Sputum color, viscosity and quantity; Other patient specific observations as needed.
• Special duties: Ability to interact with physicians and nurses. May work in an intensive care unit area. This may include: Responding to critical areas (e.g., ER, OR, Code); Performing routine checks on Life Support Unit; Assisting with bronchoscopy procedures; Assisting with minor cardiopulmonary invasive or surgical procedures; Performing tracheotomy care; Performing bedside studies including f/vt, shunt studies, ventilator mechanics dead space, compliance, O2 content, and metabolic cart studies; Performing bedside pulmonary function procedures; Interpretation of complex lab data; Providing input in decisions involving patient care on and off life support systems; Providing input on patient care via physician consultations; Displaying qualities of an independent thinker through the performance of everyday job duties; Assisting with the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia as indicated by the latest evidence based literature.
• Perform all other aspects of Respiratory Care in accordance with hospital policies and procedures. This includes: Attending monthly department meetings, specialty meetings, in-services, and any other meetings as required; Assuring all time and attendance exceptions are properly recorded; Communicating with physicians in regard to therapies ordered and therapeutic goals.
• Performs other duties as required, including cleaning, disinfecting and/or sterilization of all reusable respiratory and bronchoscopy equipment; Routine mechanical maintenance of respiratory equipment; Maintaining neat and clean work and storage areas; Maintaining neat and accurate records; Answering the phone in a professional and timely manner.
• Safety/Infection Control: Practices according to safety and infection control policies. Practices universal precautions and disposes of hazardous wastes per established guidelines; Maintains a safe, clean, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients/families/employees in accordance with hospital standards; Reports risk management concerns; Assumes responsibility for completing all annual mandatory requirements: Safety/Fire, Blood Borne Pathogen, Hazardous Communication, TB, Department Specific, Age Appropriate Care, BLS/ALS per recertification guidelines of AHA; Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.
• Service: Provides service excellence to the customers of Saint Louis University Hospital by delivering timely, high quality care in a courteous, and respectful manner. Explaining therapy to the patient prior to initiation; Being courteous to the patient, their family, visitors and co-workers; Respecting patients’ rights; Practicing commitment of patient confidentiality.
• Quality Improvement (QI): Incorporates Quality Assessment into one’s daily work. Assisting with collection of data for reporting; Completing paperwork in a timely fashion (charting/charging by the end of the assigned shift, reviewing charting for errors before electronically signing, reporting any unresolved charting/charging discrepancies to the immediate supervisor); Following policies and procedures when administering care; Reporting quality issues to management for review.
• Age Appropriate Care: Provides age-appropriate care to Adolescent, Adult, and Geriatric patients. Demonstrates knowledge and skills of normal growth & development necessary to provide services to the age of the patient served by the department; Demonstrates ability to assess and interpret age specific data to identify patient needs; Utilizes communication skills necessary to interpret age specific responses to service and interaction; Involves family or significant other in decision making related to services provided; Demonstrates ability to provide service needed for the age groups routinely served by the department assigned; Able to titrate dosages and applications to fit the needs of the various growth and development stages, recognizing that each stage requires different considerations and methods.
• Specialized Care: Provides specialized care to patients at high risk for injury. Restraint Care (Initiates/evaluates alternatives to restraint prior to application, applies restraints consistent with the approved procedure, monitors and assesses patient’s response throughout the restraint period); Pain Management (Assess patient for presence of pain, incorporates patient’s cultural/spiritual beliefs regarding pain, implements pain management techniques, includes patient and/or family members in developing a pain management plan, considers other methods of pain control); Abuse Assessment (Aware of abuse recognition criteria, reports signs of possible abuse/neglect to the physician & Risk Management, and recommends appropriate consultations).

Benefits

• One week of paid parental leave for newborns or newly adopted children (pro-rated based on FTE).
• Instant access to earned, unpaid base pay before payday through DailyPay (fees may apply).
• Upfront tuition coverage through FlexPath Funded.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree