Respiratory Therapist Inpatient / Respiratory Therapy

Children's Hospital & Medical Center•Omaha, NE

About The Position

Provides respiratory care therapies for neonatal and pediatric patients in accordance with hospital policies and procedures. Assesses patients, plans and implements respiratory care based on their cardiopulmonary needs, evaluates the effectiveness of care, and recommends revisions to the multidisciplinary care team. The role also involves maintaining clinical skills, operating respiratory equipment, administering therapeutic gases, providing emergency care, and documenting care in the electronic medical record. The therapist may precept and orient newly hired respiratory therapists and other internal team members, provide shadowing experiences for students, and participate in professional and career events. Depending on the school contract and schedule, the role may also include serving as a clinical instructor for respiratory therapy students in the hospital setting.

Requirements

Associate’s degree from an accredited AMA-approved school of respiratory care accredited by the National Board of Respiratory Care.
Current and valid Respiratory Care Practitioner credential in Nebraska upon hire.
Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association upon hire.
Registered Respiratory Therapist credential within one year of hire.
Registered Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Therapist (RRT-NPS) credential within three years of hire.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support certification within 180 days of hire.
Demonstrated competency in technical skills related to the Respiratory Therapy department.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree from an AMA-approved accredited school in respiratory care.
At least one year of respiratory therapy experience.
Experience working with neonatal and/or pediatric patients.

Responsibilities

Assess, plan, and implement respiratory care based on patients’ cardiopulmonary needs.
Evaluate the effectiveness of respiratory care plans and recommend revisions to the multidisciplinary care team.
Maintain respiratory therapy skills and demonstrate clinical competence in administering respiratory care.
Assemble, calibrate, and operate respiratory equipment, including ventilators, nebulizers, inhalers, chest physiotherapy and intrapulmonary devices, monitors, oxygen delivery systems, laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes, and disposable respiratory devices.
Administer therapeutic medical gases, including oxygen, air, Heliox, and nitric oxide, using appropriate devices and according to provider orders, protocols, pathways, or standards of practice.
Provide emergency care according to policy and procedures, and use appropriate resources when uncertain about a task or patient response.
Document assessments, evaluations, care modifications, patient responses, changes in condition, and interventions accurately and within established timeframes in the electronic medical record, including the medication administration record.
Precept, orient, and evaluate newly hired respiratory therapists according to department standards and policies.
Precept and orient other internal team members in respiratory care practices.
Provide shadowing experiences for high school and college students and participate in career, student, and professional opportunities to showcase the profession.
When applicable, supervise respiratory therapy students, orient them to their hospital role, policies, safety, professionalism, and equipment, provide supervised clinical learning, and ensure accurate documentation and patient handoffs involving student-performed therapy.