Respiratory Therapist - PRN

Mercyhealth Wisconsin and Illinois•Freeport, IL

8d•$33 - $51•Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist will perform routine therapies that aid in the treatment, diagnosis, and evaluation of patients' cardiopulmonary status. This role involves initiating, monitoring, evaluating, and weaning invasive and non-invasive ventilation, making parameter recommendations based on clinical assessment, technical assessment, patient compliance, patient response, laboratory values, and patient status. The therapist will also initiate and provide ongoing evaluation of treatment regimes, including medication delivery and oxygen administration through therapist-driven protocols, by performing patient assessments to determine needs related to treatment therapies, frequencies, and duration of treatment regimes ordered by a physician. They will assess patients clinically before and after the administration or application of any medication, procedure, or device, and recommend appropriate therapy, including initial therapy, changes in therapy, and discontinuation. The role includes monitoring, assessing, educating, and documenting the patient and/or family on therapies, medications, goals of therapies, and equipment during treatment. Timely, complete, and accurate documentation in the patient electronic medical record and departmental records is essential. Competence in the set-up, calibration, and troubleshooting of mechanical ventilators, noninvasive ventilation devices, therapeutic bronchoscopies, and pulmonary function screens is required. The therapist will also clean, assemble, and maintain equipment, and stock departmental supplies. They will perform and document emergency rounds, oxygen saturation checks, and titrate oxygen per protocol during oxygen and aerosol rounds. Therapies must be performed in strict compliance with universal precautions and proper body mechanics, using sound judgment in evaluating situations and taking appropriate action when necessary. The therapist will respond to emergent care situations in the hospital and assist with resuscitation by providing chest compressions, airway management, airway stabilization, and ventilatory support in accordance with American Heart Association guidelines and as directed by the Code Team Leader. Transporting adult patients on mechanical ventilators, non-invasive ventilation devices, and critically ill patients to intrahospital procedures and testing is also a responsibility. The role requires providing developmentally appropriate care to support various patient populations during their hospitalization, demonstrating competence in the care of pediatric and adult patients relative to determining each patient’s age-related and other physical, psycho-social, and cultural needs. Proficiency in processing and interpreting point of care (POC) blood gases, glucose, and electrolytes, and collaborating on quality control with the POC Coordinator (at applicable locations only) is expected. On-call coverage may be required as needed. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Respiratory Care Program
RRT- CRT will be accepted for RTs that are not eligible for RRT. All other CRTs must earn RRT within 1 year of hire.
CPR
NRP within 90 days of orientation, for those departments requiring delivery attendance
IL and/ or WI Respiratory Care Practitioner license
Passing the WI Caregiver Background Check and/or IL Health Care Workers Background Check.
Must be able to follow written/oral instructions.
Good mathematical and interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

Performs routine therapies that aid in the treatment, diagnosis, and evaluation of their cardiopulmonary status.
Initiate, monitor, evaluate, and wean invasive and non-invasive ventilation. Makes parameter recommendations based on clinical assessment, technical assessment, patient compliance, patient response, laboratory values, and patient status.
Initiates and provides on-going evaluation of treatment regime including medication delivery and oxygen administration through therapist driven protocols by performing patient assessments to determine the needs related to treatment therapies, frequencies, and duration of treatment regime ordered by physician.
Assesses patients clinically before and after the administration or application of any medication, procedure, or device; recommends appropriate therapy including initial therapy, changes in therapy, and discontinuation.
Monitors, assesses, educates, and documents the patient and/or family on therapies, medications, goals of therapies, and equipment during treatment.
Documents work timely, completely, and accurately including documentation in the patient electronic medical record and departmental records.
Demonstrates competence in the set-up, calibration, and troubleshooting of mechanical ventilators, noninvasive ventilation devices, therapeutic bronchoscopies and pulmonary function screens.
Cleans using high level disinfection, assembles, and maintains equipment and the stocking of departmental supplies.
Performs and documents emergency rounds, oxygen saturation checks, and titrates oxygen per protocol during oxygen and aerosol rounds.
Performs therapies in strict compliance to universal precautions and proper body mechanics, using sound judgment in evaluating situations, and taking appropriate action when necessary.
Responds to emergent care situations in the hospital and assists with resuscitation by providing chest compressions, airway management, airway stabilization, and ventilatory support in accordance with the American Heart association guidelines and as directed by the Code Team Leader.
Transports adult patients on mechanical ventilators, non-invasive ventilation devices, and critically ill to intrahospital procedures and testing.
Provides developmentally appropriate care to support the various patient populations during their hospitalization. Demonstrates competence in the care of pediatric and adult patients (when/if assigned to these patients) relative to determining each patient’s age related and other physical, psycho-social, and cultural needs.
Maintains proficiency in the processing and interpreting of point of care (POC) blood gases, glucose, and electrolytes; and collaborates on quality control with the POC Coordinator (at applicable locations only).
May require on call coverage as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.