Respiratory Therapist

Kindred Healthcare•San Diego, CA

1d•$40 - $52•Onsite

About The Position

Kindred Hospital San Diego is a 70-bed long-term acute care hospital located just outside downtown San Diego. The Respiratory Therapist administers safe and competent respiratory care as ordered by physicians, including monitoring mechanical ventilation, administering medications, assessing patients, and understanding hemodynamic monitoring and blood work results. The role includes patient monitoring, teaching, and training, with care delivered in a hospital setting that provides 24-hour clinical care seven days a week.

Requirements

Postsecondary certificate, diploma, or program graduate credential from an accredited respiratory therapy program, or an associate’s degree from an accredited respiratory therapy program.
Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) or comparable certification in the state of practice upon hire.
Basic Life Support (BCLS) certification upon hire or within the facility-specified time frame.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification upon hire or within the facility-specified time frame.
Ability to work under stress and respond quickly in emergencies.
Effective interpersonal communication with healthcare team members, patients, and families.
Understanding of lifespan growth and development, with ability to provide care appropriate for adult and geriatric patients.
Ability to work cooperatively as a team member.
Good and regular attendance.
Fluent English reading, writing, and speaking ability.

Nice To Haves

Certified Radiologic Technologist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential upon hire.
At least 1 year of related experience.

Responsibilities

Deliver respiratory care procedures throughout the hospital in accordance with policies, procedures, and protocols.
Maintain accurate and complete documentation and charge capture for respiratory care procedures; develop, document, and maintain respiratory care elements of patient care plans.
Verify and initiate physician orders for respiratory care.
Demonstrate working knowledge of respiratory care instruments and equipment; troubleshoot, resolve problems, and perform appropriate disinfection and sterilization.
Initiate, monitor, and maintain oxygen and aerosol delivery devices, as well as non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation devices.
Perform airway management, including airway placement, bag-mask ventilation, intubation or assistance with intubation, and scheduled or emergency tracheostomy tube changes; use safe suction techniques and artificial airways, and initiate and perform CPR.
Perform tracheostomy, endotracheal tube, and oral care.
Implement one-way speaking valve trials according to physician orders.
Assist physicians with diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy procedures.
Complete initial and ongoing decannulation risk assessments and provide appropriate interventions and documentation.
Perform and document timely spontaneous breathing trial assessments and initiate and advance ventilator weaning according to protocol.
Participate in the multidisciplinary early patient mobility program.
Perform pulse oximetry and carbon dioxide gas monitoring.
Perform arterial blood gas sampling and analysis, and perform and document required ABG analyzer quality control and maintenance.
Provide and document patient and family education.
Provide and receive accurate and complete patient handoff reports.
Participate in department and hospital in-services, meetings, and patient care rounds.
Notify the immediate supervisor of workload and patient acuity changes.
Provide timely, accurate updates to healthcare team members and recommend clinically indicated changes to patient therapy.
Assist with orientation and training of new employees and students, and precept new employees during orientation.
Perform other related duties as assigned.