Respiratory Therapist Full-Time Days

Memorial Regional Health•Craig, CO

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist provides respiratory and cardiopulmonary care to adult, geriatric, pediatric, and neonatal patients. The role includes assessing respiratory status and ventilator needs, recommending appropriate therapeutic interventions, delivering assigned respiratory care modalities, documenting patient status and treatment, and operating and troubleshooting cardiopulmonary equipment. The therapist works under the direction of a qualified physician when providing mechanical ventilation and assists physicians with intubation. The position also involves accurate reporting and documentation, data entry and charge reconciliation, communicating changes in workload and patient acuity to the supervisor, and supporting the orientation and training of new employees and students. The therapist participates in department and hospital meetings, in-services, rounds, and quality-improvement activities while following safety, infection-control, confidentiality, and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Must successfully pass a background check and pre-employment drug screen and breath alcohol test, if applicable.
Must complete an Employee Health meeting before starting employment.
Graduate of a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-approved Respiratory Care Program.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential according to National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) guidelines.
Unencumbered license or certification, if applicable.
Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification, or obtain it within 90 days of hire.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification, or obtain it within six months of hire.
One year of RRT experience, with knowledge and training in general respiratory care and mechanical ventilation.
Ability to perform respiratory care for adult, geriatric, pediatric, and neonatal patients, including assessment and mechanical ventilation under physician direction.
Ability to comply with protective equipment requirements related to potential exposure to blood and other infectious body fluids, chemical disinfectants, radiation, asbestos, and other hazardous substances.

Nice To Haves

Experience in pulmonary diagnostics.
Experience in cardiac diagnostics, including EKG, Holter monitoring, event monitoring, and cardiac stress testing.

Responsibilities

Deliver respiratory care procedures competently in accordance with department policies and procedures.
Maintain complete and accurate documentation of respiratory care procedures and update patient information to reflect current clinical status.
Verify physician orders for respiratory care and accurately prepare, receive, and give reports at specified times.
Attend and participate in department in-services, meetings, patient-care rounds, and mandatory hospital meetings.
Keep the supervisor apprised of changes in workload and patient acuity.
Enter daily services and patient charges and perform patient charge reconciliation.
Demonstrate working knowledge of respiratory care and cardiopulmonary instruments and equipment, and troubleshoot problems appropriately.
Provide effective airway management, including bag-mask ventilation; assist physicians with intubation; and use safe suction techniques and artificial airways.
Assist with orientation and training of new employees and respiratory or nursing students, and precept new employees during orientation.
Perform arterial blood gas draws.
Initiate, maintain, and monitor ventilator patients; interpret flow-volume and pressure-volume curves to guide appropriate clinical changes.
Perform assigned cardiopulmonary service modalities and provide mechanical ventilation to adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients under the direction of a qualified physician.
Translate medications into neonatal and pediatric doses and select appropriate equipment and procedures based on patient size, age, condition, and special needs.
Assess adult and geriatric patients’ special needs using equipment and procedures appropriate to their age and condition.
Assess respiratory status, recommend therapeutic interventions, and use assessment charting to document patient status, progress, and treatment effects.
Complete required continuous training, annual education, in-services, licensure and certification updates, and other department-specific requirements.
Comply with personal protective equipment requirements and applicable infection-control, safety, risk-management, confidentiality, and regulatory procedures.
Verify the accuracy and timely submission of time records for payroll preparation.
Communicate effectively and maintain positive working relationships with patients, staff, and vendors; represent the organization professionally and follow its attire and dress code.
Report punctually, manage time and responsibilities effectively, complete assigned duties within established timeframes, and contribute to performance-improvement and continuous-quality initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned.