Respiratory Therapist- Adult Critical Care- (24 hours/ Rotating) Sign-on Bonus Available

Tufts Medicine•Boston, MA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist provides respiratory care to patients of all ages with cardiopulmonary dysfunction throughout Tufts Medical Center, including intensive care units, inpatient rooms, the Emergency Room, and outpatient clinics. Patients are assessed initially and throughout treatment, and care, assessments, interventions, and test results are documented in the medical record. The role operates under the direction of the Director and Assistant Director of Respiratory Care and follows departmental policies, procedures, and clinical practice guidelines. Services are provided around the clock, every day of the year. The therapist initiates and manages invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, adjusts therapy according to clinical assessment, blood gas analysis, physician orders, and prescribed protocols, administers medications and oxygen, and monitors treatment effectiveness. The role also supports emergency resuscitation, high-risk deliveries, patient transport, intensive care rounds, and a range of respiratory therapies. Opportunities for expanded skills and career development include neonatal and pediatric training, advanced certifications, ECMO training, transport participation, preceptor responsibilities, quality and safety initiatives, and research opportunities.

Requirements

Associate degree in Respiratory Therapy.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care.
Current Massachusetts license in good standing with the Licensure Board of Registration.
One to two years of on-the-job experience in acute and critical care; an equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute for the stated requirements.
Knowledge of medical terminology, cardiopulmonary physiology, and respiratory therapy science.
Ability to communicate with and assess the needs of patients across different age groups and provide appropriate care.
Ability to walk and stand for approximately 90% of the time.
Ability to transport respiratory therapy equipment weighing up to 100 pounds using carts or equipment wheels.
Ability to perform required duties during emergency and extreme-stress situations.
Annual competency demonstration, including computer-based training and evaluation in adult, pediatric, and neonatal mechanical ventilators.
If cross-trained to provide neonatal and pediatric services, acquire and maintain NRP and PALS certification.
Ability to provide age-appropriate care with knowledge of growth and development, interpretation of age-specific data and responses to care, and age-specific communication.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a health profession, science, or equivalent.
Advanced certifications such as ACLS, NRP, and PALS.
Neonatal and pediatric training.
ECMO training.
Experience participating in neonatal and pediatric transport programs.
Experience orienting and precepting employees or instructing students.
Participation in quality and safety initiatives, clinical guideline and protocol development, or research.

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ respiratory care needs initially and on an ongoing basis.
Initiate invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation; check and maintain ventilator function and adjust parameters in accordance with physician orders, clinical assessment, blood gas analysis, and prescribed protocols.
Wean patients from mechanical ventilation and other therapies through patient assessment and protocol-based parameter adjustments.
Follow infection-control guidelines for invasive and non-invasive respiratory equipment.
Administer inhaled medications, oxygen, positive-pressure breathing therapies such as CPAP and BiPAP, and other prescribed therapies, including Heliox, surfactant, tobramycin, ribavirin, pentamidine, and nitric oxide.
Explain procedures to patients and families and provide patient- and family-centered care.
Analyze blood specimens for blood gases, glucose, and electrolytes in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units.
Monitor therapy using non-invasive and invasive techniques, including pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO2, transcutaneous oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring, and arterial blood gas sampling.
Analyze inspired oxygen concentration; calibrate monitors and maintain transcutaneous oxygen, end-tidal CO2, and pulse oximetry monitors.
Assist with cardiopulmonary resuscitation as part of the Code Team, primarily providing airway management and manual resuscitation, and administer drugs via the endotracheal tube when appropriate.
Assist with high-risk deliveries and transport patients requiring life support to and from referral hospitals; provide in-house transport for mechanically ventilated and other high-risk patients.
Document therapy, assessments, interventions, and test results accurately and thoroughly in the medical record, including detailed shift notes for patients cared for during the shift.
Ensure respiratory therapy equipment is properly assembled before and during patient use.
Perform daily rounds, bill patients for services rendered, and participate in daily rounds with intensive care teams as an active participant in patient care.
Assist with developing departmental in-service programs and orienting new employees; serve as a preceptor and clinical instructor for students when assigned.
Participate in quality and safety initiatives, clinical practice guideline and protocol development, and departmental or critical care research and new clinical programs.