Respiratory Therapist - Full-time

City of Hope•Newnan, GA

23h

About The Position

The respiratory care practitioner assesses patients’ respiratory needs and works with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare team members to administer respiratory procedures that provide therapeutic and diagnostic benefit. The practitioner may also perform non-invasive cardiology procedures, such as EKGs and Holter monitoring, depending on individual capabilities and training. The role requires knowledge of basic respiratory therapies and ventilator support, including indications, contraindications, equipment, setup, functionality checks, and cleaning. The practitioner documents orders, assessments, teaching interventions, and therapy notes in electronic medical records; responds appropriately to changes in patient status; and notifies the appropriate nurse and physician. The practitioner also participates in Rapid Response and Code Team duties, including airway management, arterial blood gas draws, CPR, EKGs, and ventilator support. Additional duties include cleaning, assembling, and testing equipment; identifying equipment problems and notifying the lead therapist and manager; and knowing the locations of supplies and test results, how to contact supply-ordering personnel, and how to operate the department fax machine.

Requirements

Current Georgia Respiratory Therapist license or eligibility for immediate Georgia licensure.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential.
Minimum associate degree.
At least one year of experience.
BLS/CPR certification.
ACLS certification.
Ability to perform EKGs.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Assess patients’ respiratory needs and administer respiratory care procedures in coordination with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare team members.
Perform non-invasive cardiology procedures, such as EKGs and Holter monitoring, according to individual capabilities and training.
Provide basic respiratory therapies, including oxygen, aerosolized medication, humidity, volume expansion, secretion clearance, and arterial blood gas sampling.
Maintain arterial blood gas analyzers and machines.
Set up, check the functionality of, and clean non-invasive and volume ventilators.
Document verbal orders, assessments, teaching interventions, and therapy notes in the medical and departmental electronic medical records.
Respond appropriately to changes in patient status and notify the appropriate registered nurse and physician.
Participate in Rapid Response and Code Team activities, including airway management, arterial blood gas draws, CPR, EKGs, and ventilator support.
Perform 12-lead EKGs, place leads correctly, 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 and test results, including EKG, Holter, and pulmonary function test results, are located, and know whom to contact to order supplies.
Operate the department fax machine.