Respiratory Therapist

Baptist Healthcare System•Lexington, KY

19h

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist II (RRT) provides daily respiratory care procedures, including aerosol medication administration, oxygen therapy, percussion and postural drainage, noninvasive and mechanical ventilation, CPR, bedside pulmonary function screening, and arterial blood gas testing. The therapist must be able to respond to emergency situations and provide intubation when applicable. The Baptist Health Respiratory Care department provides personalized care and advanced treatments for respiratory illnesses such as COPD and asthma. Services include pulmonary function testing, ventilator management, asthma and COPD education, 24/7 emergency respiratory care, and participation in the Neonatal Response Team. The team delivers compassionate care using advanced treatment plans.

Requirements

Registered Respiratory Therapist credential through the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC).
Associate's degree.
Kentucky Respiratory Care Practitioner license through the Kentucky Board of Respiratory Care, in accordance with KRS Chapter 314A.
Maintain active BLS certification; obtain it within 30 days of hire if not already active.
Obtain PALS and NRP within six months.

Responsibilities

Manage and assess patients receiving mechanical or noninvasive ventilation, educate patients and families about ventilator care, follow relevant protocols, and manage ventilators for neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients according to age-specific protocols.
Assess whether respiratory therapies are appropriate and make recommendations.
Perform, assess, and instruct patients in oxygen therapy, aerosol medication administration, humidification, suctioning, and chest physiotherapy.
Take and record verbal orders for respiratory care procedures.
Obtain, process, and report arterial blood gas results without direct supervision.
Perform assigned respiratory care procedures, including medication administration, oxygen therapy, percussion and postural drainage, ventilation, CPR, bedside pulmonary function screening, and arterial blood gas testing.
Respond to emergency situations and provide intubation when applicable.
Follow departmental policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Serve as a knowledgeable resource for nursing staff, physicians, students, and new respiratory staff.
Participate in quality improvement initiatives by evaluating performance and recommending enhancements.
Respond promptly to respiratory care requests and emergency pages.
Support staff development through education and training programs.
Comply with safety standards and identify job-specific hazards and patient safety responsibilities.
Provide responsive customer service, handle difficult situations professionally, and seek feedback to improve service delivery.
Reliably fulfill responsibilities and commitments.