Respiratory Therapist - Full-time

City of Hope•Newnan, GA

About The Position

The respiratory care practitioner assesses patients’ respiratory needs and works with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare team members to administer respiratory care procedures that provide therapeutic and diagnostic benefit. The role may also include non-invasive cardiology procedures, such as EKGs and Holter monitoring, depending on the practitioner’s capabilities and training. The practitioner provides basic respiratory therapies and ventilator support, including non-invasive and volume ventilation. They set up, check the functionality of, and clean ventilators; document orders, assessments, teaching interventions, and therapy notes in electronic medical records; respond appropriately to changes in patient status; and notify the appropriate RN and MD. They participate in Rapid Response and Code Team activities, including airway management, arterial blood gas draws, CPR, EKGs, and ventilator support as needed. The role also involves maintaining and testing equipment, identifying and reporting equipment problems, locating and ordering supplies, and retrieving test results such as EKG, Holter, and pulmonary function test results.

Requirements

Current Georgia Respiratory Therapist license, or eligibility for immediate Georgia licensure.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential required.
Minimum associate degree.
At least one year of experience.
BLS/CPR certification required.
ACLS certification required.
Ability to perform EKGs required.
Knowledge of indications, contraindications, and equipment for basic respiratory therapies and ventilator support.
Ability to set up, check the functionality of, and clean all types of ventilators.
Ability to document care and intervene appropriately in response to changes in patient status.

Nice To Haves

Experience with pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and/or bedside spirometry.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ respiratory needs and collaborate with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare team members to administer respiratory care procedures.
Administer basic respiratory therapies, including oxygen, aerosolized medication, humidity, volume expansion, secretion clearance, and arterial blood gas sampling.
Provide ventilator support, including non-invasive and volume ventilation; set up, check, and clean ventilators.
Document verbal orders, assessments, teaching interventions, and therapy notes in the medical and departmental electronic medical record.
Respond appropriately to changes in patient status and notify the appropriate RN and MD.
Participate as a member of the Rapid Response and Code Team, providing airway management, ABG draws, CPR, EKGs, and ventilator support as needed.
Perform 12-lead EKGs, use correct lead placement, and recognize artifact and ominous findings.
Clean, assemble, and test equipment according to department policy; identify equipment problems and notify the lead therapist and manager.
Know where supplies are stored and whom to contact to order supplies.
Locate test results, including EKG, Holter, and PFT results.
Operate the department fax machine.
Perform non-invasive cardiology procedures, such as EKGs and Holter monitoring, depending on individual capabilities and training.