Respiratory Therapist - Nights $20,000 Sign on bonus

Yale New Haven Health•New London, CT

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist provides restorative and interventional respiratory care to patients with acute or chronic conditions. The role involves administering respiratory treatment modalities, monitoring their effectiveness, and identifying when a different modality may be needed. As a member of the critical care team, the therapist provides resuscitative measures when necessary and serves as a resource to patient care providers on pulmonary medicine. The role also performs EKGs and collects arterial blood specimens for analysis. The therapist reviews orders, assesses patients before and after therapy, administers and documents treatments, evaluates responses, and recommends modifications to treatment plans. The position also involves patient and family education, use of clinical information systems and respiratory equipment, emergency response, patient transport support, oxygen-system failure support, and participation in continuous quality improvement. Cross-trained staff may perform diagnostic testing and support pulmonary rehabilitation, cardiology, or pulmonary function services, with additional training and certifications as applicable.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of respiratory therapy.
Registered Respiratory Therapist credential, or Certified Respiratory Therapist credential with the requirement to obtain the RRT credential within 18 months.
Current Connecticut state license.
May start as an entry-level practitioner with no experience, but must successfully attain necessary skills during orientation and probation.
Cross-training in other departments may require additional certification and training.
For staff who voluntarily cross-train into cardiology or pulmonary services, precepting with trained staff is required to acquire applicable skills.
ACLS and cardiology certification are required within one year of completing cardiology cross-training.
For staff cross-trained to the Pulmonary Function Lab, CPFT certification is required within six months of completing cross-training; RPFT certification is preferred.
After six months of voluntary training in the PFT lab, CPFT credentials are required and RPFT credentials are preferred.

Nice To Haves

Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) certification for staff cross-trained to the Pulmonary Function Lab.

Responsibilities

Review physician orders before administering therapeutic modalities, assess their appropriateness, and seek clarification from nurses or physicians as needed.
Assess patients before and after therapies according to established policies.
Administer respiratory care modalities according to departmental policies and document patient responses.
Evaluate responses to therapy and promptly refer unusual, unexpected, or adverse responses for further intervention.
Recommend treatment-plan modifications based on patient assessments and responses.
Educate patients and families about therapy goals, medication use, breathing techniques, oxygen and therapy equipment, and care-management skills.
Gather, update, and document appropriate patient data according to department policies and procedures.
Use the clinical information system.
Operate and troubleshoot equipment in various settings according to department policies.
Respond to emergencies using appropriate resuscitative techniques, airway management, and resuscitative equipment.
Provide respiratory care and support during patient transportation from NICU through adult care.
Provide support during oxygen-system failures.
Participate in continuous quality improvement.
Perform EKGs.
Collect arterial blood specimens for analysis.
For cross-trained staff, perform diagnostic testing and complete necessary paperwork.
For pulmonary rehabilitation staff, assess, manage, and educate enrolled patients with interdisciplinary team members and the medical director.
Operate equipment safely according to manufacturer specifications; follow safe patient-interaction and body-mechanics procedures; maintain required vaccines and immunizations; and follow safety procedures for hazardous materials and blood-borne pathogens.
Meet performance expectations for customer service, teamwork, resource utilization, and staff and self-development.
Perform other duties as assigned or directed to support department or unit operations.