Respiratory Therapist- Fulltime- Nights

Northeast Georgia Health System•Braselton, GA

About The Position

Administers and coordinates respiratory treatments for patients throughout the lifespan and documents care provided. Provides direct care as part of an interdisciplinary team, communicates patient-care updates, assesses patients, and responds to emergency and critical-care situations. The position serves neonate, infant, child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients. The therapist participates in tier 1 huddles and staff meetings, uses and learns error-prevention tools and safe-care behaviors, and is encouraged to participate in VOICE and the unit practice council. The role also seeks and provides feedback to improve clinical practice. The Respiratory Therapist communicates with nurses, physicians, and supervisors about patient-care concerns, ventilator changes, orders, and ABG results; provides shift reports; verifies orders; and completes medical-record, ABG, quality-control, and maintenance documentation. The role manages critical-care patients and ventilators, performs floor therapy and new starts, provides patient education, follows up with critical-care patients transferred to floor areas, and contributes to effective department operations.

Requirements

Associate degree.
Licensed to practice as a Respiratory Therapist (Respiratory Care Professional) in the state of Georgia.
Respiratory Therapy training through an accredited school.
Successful completion of the registry examination.
Good interpersonal skills.
Good communication skills.

Nice To Haves

One year of prior experience in a relevant position.

Responsibilities

Administer and coordinate respiratory treatments for patients throughout the lifespan and properly document care.
Provide effective direct care as part of the interdisciplinary team and communicate patient-care updates and changes.
Assess patients and respond to emergency and critical-care situations, providing therapy as needed.
Communicate with nurses about patient-care issues, ventilator changes, and ABG results; communicate with physicians about orders, critical ABG results, and changes; and communicate concerns to the supervisor.
Give detailed shift reports, preferably at bedside when possible.
Verify new-start and ABG orders before treating patients.
Document treatments, medications delivered, ventilator flowsheets, and other required information in the EMR and department paperwork; complete ABG logs, QC, and maintenance records.
Manage critical-care patients and ventilators according to parameters, using chart information to guide care.
Assist nurses with other duties as requested to support quality patient care and minimize time away from units.
Document changes to patient-care plans thoroughly, including explanations of events and deviations from the documented plan.
Perform assigned floor therapy modalities and new starts in a timely manner; provide patient education and information as needed.
Follow up on critical-care patients transferred to floor areas, understand oxygen and aerosol protocols, and inform the floor of unexpected treatment delays.
Organize patient care and prioritize assigned tasks to support effective department operations.
Perform patient consultations and assessments at physician or nursing request.
Attend tier 1 huddles and staff meetings and use and learn error-prevention tools and safe-care behaviors.
Seek and provide feedback to improve clinical practice; participate in VOICE and the unit practice council as encouraged.
Perform other duties as assigned.