Respiratory Therapist (RT) PT Weekend Option ($10 shift diff)

Vibra Travels•Madisonville, KY

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist works under the supervision of the Respiratory Therapy Manager and/or Lead Respiratory Therapist and, upon physician request, sets up and operates respiratory care equipment used to diagnose and treat respiratory disease or illness. The role provides care to adult and geriatric patients aged 18 and over. The schedule is every Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a $10 shift differential for the weekend option. The therapist administers prescribed respiratory treatments, manages ventilation and ventilator weaning, performs tracheostomy care, conducts respiratory diagnostic studies including blood gas analysis, and documents treatments and patient responses. The position also involves equipment processing, maintenance, safety checks, patient and caregiver education, communication with the care team, and participation in departmental meetings and improvement activities. The posting labels the role “PRN” under Responsibilities while also describing a recurring weekend-option schedule. It does not explicitly identify the employment arrangement beyond those statements.

Requirements

Hold a license to practice as a Respiratory Practitioner in the state of employment.
Have BLS certification upon hire.
Obtain ACLS certification within 90 days of employment.
Maintain required licenses and certifications throughout employment.

Responsibilities

Provide respiratory care to adult and geriatric patients aged 18 years and over.
Explain the purpose and procedure of treatments, tests, and equipment to patients, and document education provided to patients and caregivers.
Conduct physician-prescribed treatments, including hand-held nebulizer therapy, nasal oxygen therapy, administration of medicinal vapors and gases, humidity and prescribed oxygen concentrations, and chest physical therapy.
Set up, operate, and monitor ventilators; participate in ventilator weaning according to protocols and physician direction; and adjust ventilator setup to support patient comfort and respiratory demand.
Maintain ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and intubate as necessary.
Document treatments and patient responses in respiratory care records and the patient chart, and place MARs in the chart in proper order.
Perform tracheostomy care and change tracheostomy tubes as necessary, following hospital policy and documenting changes.
Replace tubing, inline suction devices, and suction canisters according to hospital policy and procedure.
Report treatments and patient conditions to relief personnel, communicate changes and new orders, and keep the patient’s primary care nurse informed.
Clean, sterilize, package, and prepare respiratory therapy equipment, including ENT and bronchoscope equipment, for transport; verify Cidex OPA functionality and test-strip status.
Perform preventive maintenance and equipment repairs, including ventilator EST and SST pre-use checks, and document them in the cleaning log.
Make regular rounds; check ventilators at least every four hours and oxygen equipment at least once per shift; fill room humidifiers; change suction canisters daily; and spot-check other equipment as required.
Perform and evaluate arterial and venous blood gas analysis, demonstrate competency with blood gas devices, and maintain annual continuing education related to laboratory practices.
Assist in preparing respiratory care and ventilator patients for physical therapy, ambulation, transport, and similar activities.
Store oxygen tanks according to OSHA and hospital guidelines.
Attend monthly Respiratory Care departmental meetings, general staff meetings, and in-services.
Follow the Hospital Compliance Plan and report suspected violations to the Compliance Officer.
Maintain professional conduct and comply with hospital and departmental policies, procedures, and attendance requirements.
Follow measures to prevent exposure to bloodborne pathogens and participate in the Hazardous Material Program and established safety and patient safety practices.
Recognize responsibilities related to patient abuse and follow policy for appropriate referrals and interventions.
Participate in Performance Improvement activities.
Limit access to protected health information to what is reasonably necessary for work and share it only on a need-to-know basis.
Perform other incidental and related duties as required or assigned.