Advanced Respiratory Therapist Palm Bay

Overview

Advanced Respiratory Therapist - Respiratory Therapy

POSITION SUMMARY:

To be fully engaged in providing No Harm / Quality, Customer Experience, and Stewardship by showing clinical proficiency in the adult and/or neonatal critical care areas. Be responsible for performing respiratory care appropriate to the age of the patient for all skills applicable to the skills required of a Respiratory Therapist. Have a thorough understanding of all respiratory care modalities and be capable of making judgment decisions and recommendations to physicians pertaining to respiratory care modalities.

Be able to evaluate these techniques and report their findings to the responsible physician. Function as a resource for all staff on respiratory care procedures and assist with orientation and competency check off of all Respiratory Care staff. Display ICARE Values in accordance with the Health First Mission and Vision.

• Quality/No Harm:
  Documents care according to policy by random check.
• Provides correct procedure to correct patient by checking two patient identifiers.
• Maintains equipment in good working order and troubleshoots when necessary; reports all malfunctioning equipment to appropriate area/associate with documentation of problem.
• Maintains a clean, neat, safe work environment at all times and charges appropriately for care provided.
• Gives report to oncoming shift on all patients and procedures, and assures completion of workload before leaving.
• Medication safety - removes only one patient's medication at a time from Pyxis system.
• Patient identification - uses Pyxis med slip to appropriately identify two patient identifiers.
• Hand-off communication - reads back and verifies all verbal and telephone orders, reports patient information to the appropriate associate in a timely manner, follows established approach to reporting including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions.
• Thorough documentation, including patient care, interdisciplinary Plan of Care and patient education.
• Other duties as assigned. Report safety opportunities to the Health First Safety Portal.
• Respond to Stat calls within appropriate time frame with proper equipment. Respond to all Code Blues and Rapid Response Calls in assigned building and take leadership role for Respiratory Care staff.
• Complete shift duties and other assigned tasks on time. Follow proper infection control procedures for care provided, and proper hand washing technique.
• Initiate and manage invasive and non-invasive ventilation per physicians' orders, including troubleshooting and discontinuation.
• Ability to perform acute and intensive care functions for the adult/pediatric patient.
• Interpret CXR for ETT, Pulmonary Artery, and IABP catheter placement, and interpret basic cardiac/pulmonary conditions.
• Initiate Heliox therapy; understand indications, contraindications, and complications.
• Perform procedures for NICU, Labor & delivery, and nursery (if applicable - NICU core group).
• Assemble NICU equipment and enter settings as part of skills fair. Perform bedside pulmonary function testing.
• Initiate, troubleshoot, discontinue and manage IABP modalities; pull IABP catheters according to policy (if applicable).
• Help develop and teach annual skills fair. Assist with department performance measures when needed.
• Demonstrate knowledge and proficiency of emergent intubation, elective oral and nasal intubations. Must perform minimum of 2 intubations per year to maintain advanced status.
• Demonstrate knowledge and proficiency with arterial line insertions. Must perform minimum of 2 arterial line insertions per year to maintain advanced status.
• Work in all adult ICUs and participate in regular ICU rotation. Proficiency in SVO2 monitoring and calibrations. Observe and interpret hemodynamic monitoring and cardiac arrhythmias. Auscultate and assess breath and cardiac sounds. Include ECG as needed in Respiratory Care competency checks.
• Participate in department education/committees/Skills fairs as needed at manager's/director's discretion. Serve as a resource for Respiratory staff and nursing staff regarding Respiratory Care therapeutics. Mentor new respiratory therapists with intubations, A-lines, ventilators, and all respiratory modalities.
• Customer
  
  Experience:
  
  Educate patients, family and staff on Respiratory Care procedures. Maintain confidentiality. Participate in patient experience initiatives. Attend staff meetings/in-services as required and sign off on meeting minutes.
• Stewardship:
  Charge appropriately for care provided. Communicate effectively with patients, physicians and staff; work as a team player; contribute to cost effectiveness; be a good steward of hospital equipment and supplies.

• Graduate of an accredited School of Respiratory Care.
• Current license from Florida DOH as Registered Respiratory Therapist.
• Must hold current AHA BLS Healthcare Provider Completion Card prior to start date and maintain. ACLS and PALS are required within 90 days of start date and…