Respiratory Therapist

Overview

The Part Time Respiratory Therapist position will consider CRT, RRT, and all levels of career ladder. The final title and pay will be determined by education, experience, and certification.

The Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) provides all modes of respiratory care and diagnostics, on physician order, within the Critical Care, General Care Medical/Surgical units, and specialty departments as required. Acts on a broad knowledge base and experience in working with physicians and other health-care providers. This is accomplished without direct supervision in most cases. The Registered Therapist may act as a resource person for other members of the department.

• Performance of Technical Practice
  • Provides highly technical Respiratory Care procedures in any environment following unit specific orientation
  • Initiates and maintains ventilator management for patient on life support except at Westmoreland Manor.
  • Performs arterial puncture and blood gas analysis.
  • Provides cardiopulmonary resuscitation for all age groups served.
  • Maintains and monitors the function of all Respiratory Care equipment in use.
  • Acts as a resource to other health care providers, regarding clinical issues.
• Patient Care
  • Assesses patients for require respiratory care services. Reassesses daily or as often as necessary.
  • Administers inhaled medications, monitors patient reaction to medication, reports response and/or adverse reaction to nurse and physician.
  • Provides patient and family or care giver with education related to disease process or dysfunction, therapy ordered, medication, dosage, methods and equipment use and functions.
  • Participates in interdisciplinary care-planning process as required by various nursing or patient care units, and in discharge planning process as needed.
• Clinical decision-Making
  • Assimilates large quantities of data while caring for critically ill patients.
  • Modifies and directs respiratory care procedures and diagnostics, based on acquired data and patient clinical findings.
  • Assists with the coordination of patient care relating to cardiopulmonary dysfunction, in co-operation with the physician, nurse, and other health care providers.
• Policy and Procedure
  • Understands department policy and procedure to assure compliance with same.
  • Avoids deviation from policy and/or procedure preventing the potential for adverse effect either on an employee, patient or visitor.
  • Reviews departmental policy and procedure on an annual basis and make recommendations for appropriate changes.
• Communication
  • Provides clear, concise, organized written and oral communication to management and staff.
  • Interacts effectively with physicians, patients, management and co-workers.
  • Documents in a neat, timely and legible fashion as appropriate.
  • Documents in EMR per department guidelines.
  • Serves as a liaison and positive role model to other departments.
  • Communicates directly with physician regarding patient respiratory status, recommendations for therapy, and diagnostic testing.
• Takes and transcribes verbal and telephone orders from physicians.
• Maintain supply and inventory in assigned areas.
• Notifies appropriate personnel of stock depletion as it occurs.
• Keeps department and other areas of responsibility clean and orderly.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Information Processing
  • Transcribes and carries out orders correctly.
  • Utilizes all applicable information systems appropriately.
  • Charges equipment, supplies and services accurately.
• Quality Assessment and Improvement
  • Demonstrates ongoing awareness and participation in quality improvement program.
  • Responds with improved performance to results obtained from QA monitors.
  • Identifies problems and reports to manager when appropriate.
• Locates and uses reference manuals
  • Maintains a working knowledge of department and system policy and procedure.
  • Locates and uses department and system protocols, procedures, and policy manuals such as infection control, MSDS, OSHA, and on line policy manuals.
• Performs specialized procedures, tasks, and functions. These may vary between entities and not all RCPs will perform these functions. Specialized orientation/training will be provided to RCPs…