Respiratory Therapist - Per Diem

Endeavor Health•Arlington Heights, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist position involves performing, teaching, and guiding all forms of respiratory therapy, chest physical therapy, and cardiopulmonary diagnostics. The role requires assessing and treating patients of all age groups, from neonatal to geriatric, and involving families in the plan of care. Responsibilities include administering various respiratory therapies, understanding equipment and associated risks, providing intensive respiratory care, performing CPR and cardiac massage if necessary, and conducting arterial punctures for blood gas analysis. The therapist will also perform pulmonary function testing, explain procedures to patients and staff, develop home care instructions, participate in continuing education, and maintain patient records. Additionally, the role involves guiding Respiratory Therapy Techs, maintaining equipment and department appearance, and potentially performing selected duties of the Director in their absence, such as distributing staff assignments and authorizing equipment rental. Adherence to all hospital standards, policies, and procedures is required.

Requirements

Graduate of an AMA approved school for respiratory therapy granting eligibility to take exams given by the National Board for Respiratory Care or Registered or Certified by the N.B.R.C.
Current Illinois Respiratory Care Practitioner licensure required.
Current CPR certification.
Advanced knowledge of acid-base balance, blood gas analysis and interpretation, and cardiopulmonary physiology.

Responsibilities

Performs, teaches, and guides all forms of respiratory therapy, chest physical therapy, and cardiopulmonary diagnostics.
Assesses and treats all age groups of patients from neonatal to geriatric, implementing assessment/treatment based on developmental stages.
Involves family/guardian in plan of care and conducts patient family education, considering developmental needs.
Administers all forms of respiratory therapy including medical gases, medication delivery via the airways, chest physical therapy, pressure breathing treatments, breathing retraining, aerosol and humidity therapy.
Understands the equipment, indications, contraindications, hazards, and adverse reactions of each mode of therapy.
Provides intensive respiratory care utilizing advanced techniques and specialized equipment.
Establishes and maintains an airway during CPR; performs external cardiac massage if necessary.
Performs arterial punctures to obtain blood gas samples, blood gas analysis, and related calculations; performs blood gas lab quality control.
Performs pulmonary function testing including spirometry, lung volume, and DLCO; performs related calculations, and quality control.
Explains purpose and procedure of treatments, tests, and equipment to patient, family, and hospital personnel.
Develops and delivers home care instructions to patients.
Participates in continuing education at all levels within the department.
Performs patient assessment and evaluation of care; confers with nurses and physicians to optimize the care of the patient.
Initiates and maintains the appropriate records in the patient chart and on respiratory care records.
Provides guidance to Respiratory Therapy Techs as necessary.
Cleans, repairs, and maintains respiratory therapy equipment; maintains appearance of the department.
Performs selected duties of the Director in his/her absence, eg. distributes staff assignments, grants overtime as necessary, accepts sick and absentee calls from staff, authorizes equipment rental, and activates disaster plan in case of emergency.
Adheres to all hospital standards, policies and procedures.