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JOB SUMMARY
Under the supervision of the Respiratory Therapy Manager and/or the Respiratory Care Shift Supervisor and upon request of the physician, set up and operate various types of respiratory care equipment to be utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease and/or illness.
Explain purpose and procedure of treatments, tests and equipment to the patient and properly document all education given to patient(s) and their caregivers on the patient education form in the patient’s chart.
Provide care for the adult or geriatric patient, ages 18 years and over.
Perform arterial puncture and properly label and prepare sample for transport to contract lab for analysis.
Conduct physician prescribed treatments, including but not limited to, hand--held nebulizer therapy and various nasal oxygen devices in order to administer prescribed medicinal vapors and gases, humidity, various oxygen concentrations to the respiratory system of the patient and chest physical therapy treatments.
Set up, operate and monitor ventilators when patient’s respiratory system is incapable of adequate spontaneous ventilation. Participate in ventilator weaning process, utilizing protocols and physician direction. Set up ventilator using the ventilator graphics to ensure the patient is comfortable and getting enough flow to meet his/her respiratory demand.
Ensure the adequate maintenance of ventilation during cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; intubate as necessary.
Attend monthly Respiratory Care departmental meetings and in-services.
Record all pertinent information of treatments and patient response to treatments on respiratory care records and patient chart; place MAR’s on patient’s chart in proper order.
Perform trach care per hospital policy and procedure including dating and discarding sterile water within 24 hours of opening the bottle.
Change out trach tubes as necessary and per hospital policy and procedure; properly document changes on the respiratory treatment sheet in the doctor’s progress notes.
Change out tubing and inline suction devices, including suction canister each day per hospital policy and procedure.
Report treatments to be conducted and condition of patients to relief personnel. Give complete report of any changes made and new orders written and keep patient’s primary care nurse informed of such changes.
Perform preventative maintenance and repair of equipment including EST and SST pre-use checks on ventilator before each use or as needed and properly document in the cleaning log.
Make regular rounds at a minimal 1 hour interval, check patient’s ventilator at least every four hours and oxygen equipment at least once per shift, fill room humidifiers, change suction canisters daily, as well as spot-checking other respiratory therapy equipment per hospital policy and procedure.
Assist in preparing respiratory care/ventilator patients for physical therapy, ambulation, transport, etc. Properly store oxygen tanks per OSHA and hospital guidelines.
Participate in the Hazardous Material Program. Hazards include exposure to blood and body fluids, possible communicable diseases, sharp objects and instruments, assorted chemicals and gasses as listed in the Hazardous Materials Program Manual.
Comply with measures for preventing exposure to blood borne pathogens.
Adhere to all components of the Hospital Compliance Plan in performing job duties and report any violations or suspected violations of the Plan to the Compliance Officer.
Demonstrate professional conduct and comply with hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
Adhere to hospital attendance policy as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
Comply with established Safety and Patient Safety Program practices.
Develop an understanding of responsibilities for recognizing abuse and follow policy for making appropriate referrals/interventions.
Develop an understanding of responsibilities for participation in Performance Improvement activities and participate in such activities.
Perform other incidental and related duties, as required and/or assigned.
Limit access to protected health information (PHI) to the information reasonably necessary to do the job and share such information only on a need to know basis for work purposes.
(Access to verbal, written and electronic PHI for this job has been determined based on job level and job responsibility within the organization. Computerized access to PHI for this job has been determined as described above and is controlled via user ID and password.)
The above statements reflect the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified, and shall not be considered as a detailed description of all work requirements that may be inherent in the position.
Reasonable accommodation may be provided to a qualified individual with a disability who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
MANDATORY QUALIFICATION (SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION)
Graduate of approved AMA School of Respiratory Technology.
Credentialed by the NBRC and licensed to practice in the state
BCLS certified
Able to work under stress and in emergency situations
Able to speak, read and write English
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Registered or Certified Respiratory Therapist
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES