RRT Charge - Nights

Ohio County Healthcare•Hartford, KY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The RRT Charge performs cardiopulmonary treatments and services for patients and helps ensure respiratory services comply with Ohio County Hospital policies, procedures, purpose, vision, and values. The charge therapist works under the Respiratory Supervisor, Respiratory Manager, and Director of Ancillary Services, and covers assigned duties when the supervisor or manager is unavailable. The role also supports the supervisor in completing department duties and may perform supervising and other reasonable management tasks as requested. The position provides direct patient care across the Respiratory Therapy department and other hospital departments. Duties include assessing and monitoring cardiopulmonary status, taking vital signs, performing CPR and basic first aid when needed, and carrying out respiratory therapies, diagnostic procedures, testing, and equipment management. The charge therapist identifies issues that could adversely affect patient outcomes or critical test results, follows department policies to correct them promptly, and seeks guidance from department leadership when needed. The job requires effective communication, sound judgment, the ability to work under stressful circumstances, and the physical ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, push equipment, and lift patients or objects. Lifting over 50 pounds should be done with a team or lifting aid. The role involves direct exposure risks associated with patient care, including bloodborne pathogens and communicable diseases, as well as possible exposure to chemicals, radiation, and electrical hazards. Employees must follow hospital conduct, safety, privacy, compliance, and training requirements.

Requirements

Complete an approved Respiratory Therapy Program.
Complete the NBRC Therapist Multiple-Choice Exam, or equivalent, and earn CRT or RRT credentials.
Hold licensure from the Kentucky Board of Respiratory Care.
Maintain CPR certification from the American Heart Association.
Meet the stated minimum education requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent; the posting says a GED agreement may be allowed to obtain the credential within six months.
Demonstrate proficiency in respiratory procedures and related services, including EKG, EMG, Holter/Event monitoring, ABG, stress testing, aerosol and oxygen therapy, peak flow monitoring, incentive spirometry, invasive and noninvasive ventilation management, resuscitation, and percussion therapy.
Understand respiratory equipment operation and its attached components.
Demonstrate competency with the CPSI Hospital Information System and ECW, including appropriate processes during computer downtime.
Be able to make independent judgments regarding patient care, work under stress, and deal professionally with others.
Be able to lift patients and push equipment; lift objects up to 50 pounds, using a team lift or lifting aid for heavier loads.
Have the communication, fine and gross motor skills, vision, and hearing needed to perform patient assessments and job duties.
Maintain emotional stability and function effectively under stressful circumstances; have an acceptable pre-employment health screening and attendance record.
Adapt to different personalities and stressful situations without compromising the accuracy or quality of work.
Maintain patient privacy and confidentiality and comply with hospital policies, safety requirements, mandatory training, and annual compliance education.
Obtain any additional training needed to perform job duties, including on days off if necessary.

Responsibilities

Perform cardiopulmonary treatments and services, including aerosol and oxygen therapy, pulmonary function testing, peak flow monitoring, incentive spirometry, noninvasive ventilation management, ventilator management, percussion therapy, EKGs, nerve conduction studies, Holter/Event monitor setup and scanning, stress testing, arterial blood gases, and electroencephalography.
Take vital signs and assess and monitor patients’ cardiopulmonary status; perform CPR and basic first aid when needed.
Respond to Code Blue events and provide resuscitation.
Cover assigned duties when the supervisor or manager is unavailable and work with the supervisor to complete duties in a timely manner.
Identify circumstances that may adversely affect patient outcomes or critical testing results and follow department policies to correct problems promptly; seek guidance from the supervisor, manager, or Ancillary Director when necessary.
Perform daily tasks and duties assigned by the supervisor, manager, or Ancillary Director.
Keep the Respiratory Manager informed of matters affecting the department, including safety, morale, work methods, equipment, procedures, staffing, transfers, and patient-related concerns.
Attend at least 75% of department staff meetings, mandatory hospital and department in-services, and weekly meetings with the supervisor or manager; review posted communications and obtain information from missed meetings or in-services.
Maintain confidentiality and HIPAA compliance, build professional working relationships, communicate concerns, and consult appropriate personnel about patient information relevant to safe procedures.
Perform supervising and other reasonable management duties as requested by the Respiratory Manager.
Support competency and proficiency needs, take initiative to obtain necessary training, participate in staff orientation, and train new night-shift staff.
Follow patient identification and procedure requirements; review orders and charts, clarify orders with physicians when necessary, explain procedures to patients and families, obtain patient histories, and document required information in the hospital information system.
Obtain readings for urgent procedures in accordance with the Critical Test Results policy, keep patients from leaving when a critical result is identified, and contact the ordering physician for instructions.
Complete all work before the end of the shift and communicate pending procedures or issues to the next shift during handoff.
Maintain department and other designated-area supply inventories, order supplies as needed, and ensure respiratory equipment, oxygen and suction hookups, and medical gas cylinders are properly maintained and in working condition.
Maintain required continuing education and current CPR certification, and provide updated documentation to the Respiratory Manager and Human Resources.
Assess work areas for safety hazards and promptly report safety issues.
Interpret and enforce applicable standards of practice and hospital policies, including infection and exposure control, personnel, and employee health policies.
Participate in hospital continuous-improvement efforts, including data collection, analysis, and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Use proper hand-washing techniques and follow applicable infection-control practices.
Maintain daily procedure counts, workload units, and procedure logs; perform night-shift ABG quality-control procedures and records.
Help ensure night-shift scheduling, handle applicable vacation requests, cover shifts when call-ins or no-shows occur, and arrange staffing when add-on procedures or workload exceed scheduled staffing.
Ensure night-shift staff complete tasks on time, prioritize work, complete quarterly education, and finish alarm testing and checklists.
Assist the supervisor or manager in addressing conflicts or issues involving physicians, patients, employees, or others.
Perform outpatient reminder calls and provide instructions for next-day testing; conduct follow-up outpatient surveys.
Complete specialty-procedure competencies and assigned department tasks as applicable.
For day-shift-specific duties listed in the posting: inspect the outdoor medical-gas storage area weekly and document the inspection; follow EKG procedures and distribute EKGs appropriately; maintain procedure-room supplies; order and distribute gas cylinders according to policy; keep department areas clean and organized; clean the laptop cart and EKG machine weekly; and put away and maintain stock in designated areas.