Respiratory Therapist PRN-Nights

Kindred Healthcare•Rahway, NJ

12h•Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist administers safe and competent respiratory care as ordered by physicians. The role includes monitoring mechanical ventilation, administering medications, assessing patients, understanding hemodynamic monitoring and blood work results, and providing patient monitoring, teaching, and training. Care is provided in a 34-bed long-term acute care hospital that offers extended recovery care and 24-hour clinical care seven days a week. The therapist performs respiratory care procedures throughout the hospital, maintains documentation and charge capture, develops respiratory care elements of patient care plans, verifies and initiates physician orders, and uses and maintains respiratory care equipment. The position also includes airway management, mechanical ventilation and weaning, emergency response, diagnostic and therapeutic procedure assistance, patient and family education, communication with the healthcare team, and support for employee and student training.

Requirements

Respiratory therapy education required for attainment of credentials from the National Board for Respiratory Care.
Current respiratory therapy license from the appropriate state licensing body.
Current Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential, or Texas Respiratory Care Practitioner Certification, in compliance with the National Board for Respiratory Care Credential Maintenance Program.
Current BLS and ACLS certifications.
Ability to work under stress and respond quickly in emergency situations.
Appropriate interpersonal communication skills when interacting with healthcare team members, patients, and families.
Understanding of lifespan growth and development and ability to provide care appropriate for adult and geriatric patients.
Ability to work cooperatively as a team member.
Good and regular attendance.
Fluent English reading, writing, and speaking skills.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Deliver respiratory care procedures in all hospital areas in accordance with policies, procedures, and protocols.
Maintain accurate and complete documentation and charge capture for respiratory care procedures; develop and maintain respiratory care elements of patient care plans.
Verify and initiate physician orders for respiratory care.
Demonstrate working knowledge of respiratory care instruments and equipment; troubleshoot problems and perform proper disinfection and sterilization.
Initiate, monitor, and maintain oxygen and aerosol delivery devices, as well as non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation devices.
Perform airway management, including oral or nasal airway placement, bag-mask ventilation, intubation or assistance with intubation, and scheduled or emergency tracheostomy tube changes.
Use safe and appropriate suction techniques and artificial airways; perform tracheostomy, endotracheal tube, and oral care.
Initiate and perform CPR.
Implement one-way speaking valve trials as ordered by a physician.
Assist physicians with diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy procedures.
Complete initial and ongoing decannulation risk assessments, interventions, and documentation.
Perform and document timely spontaneous breathing trial assessments and initiate and advance ventilator weaning according to protocol.
Participate in the multidisciplinary early patient mobility program.
Perform pulse oximetry and carbon dioxide gas monitoring.
Perform arterial blood gas sampling and analysis, and document ongoing analyzer quality control and maintenance.
Provide and document patient and family education.
Provide and receive accurate, complete patient handoff reports.
Participate in department and hospital in-services, meetings, and patient care rounds.
Notify the immediate supervisor of changes in workload and patient acuity.
Provide timely, accurate updates to healthcare team members and recommend therapy modifications when clinically indicated.
Assist with orientation and training of new employees and students, and precept new employees during orientation.
Perform other related duties as assigned.