Lead Respiratory Therapist

Why work for Nebraska Methodist Health System?
At Nebraska Methodist Health System, we focus on providing exceptional care to the communities we serve and people we employ. We call it The Meaning of Care – a culture that has and will continue to set us apart. It’s helping families grow by making each delivery special, conveying a difficult diagnosis with a compassionate touch, going above and beyond for a patient’s needs, or giving a high five when a patient beats a disease or conquers a personal health challenge. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits and a great work environment where all employees are valued! Most importantly, our employees are part of a team that makes a real difference in the communities we live and work in.

Job Summary:

Location: Nebraska Methodist Hospital
Address: 8303 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE

Schedule: Nights - weekend and holiday rotation

Responsible for overseeing the coordination and delivery of quality care to patients according to their respiratory needs by the Advanced Respiratory Care Practitioners. Provide assessment of respiratory patients with acute and chronic illnesses, to ensure delivery of clinically appropriate respiratory care procedures as prescribed by the medical staff for neonate, pediatric, adolescent and adult patients.

Responsibilities:

Essential Functions

1. Performs routine and complex modalities of respiratory care independent of direct supervision.

• Demonstrates competency on all modalities performed at the Hospital.

• Assists with therapies and administering ventilator support to patients as needed.

• Upon notification, responds immediately to code blue and rapid responses.

• Performs airway management and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as necessary.

• Assists with inpatient and outpatient bronchoscopies as needed.

• Assists with Nitric Challenges in the absence of the Team Leader.

  • Nitric Challenges are not done at MJE

2. Documents procedures in patient record according to departmental policies.

• ​Documents patient assessment, interventions and progress in the electronic medical record.

• Updates the patient care plans and goals to reflect appropriate patient care needs.

• Documentation is pertinent, accurate, and completed in a timely manner.

3. Assures all activities are completed by assigned staff by coaching, mentoring, and role modeling regarding patient care issues.

• Supervises/ evaluates care provided during assigned shift.

• Redirects therapists to demonstrate core values to promote a positive work environment.

• Gives input and assists with completion of staff performance evaluations and developmental plans.

• Serves as a resource person to assigned care providers as needed.

• Reports issues/ trends to System Director and/or follows-up with appropriate staff.

4. Assures positive customer relations are maintained with hospital personnel, patients, visitors and physicians.

• ​Assures shift report, rounds and Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (SBAR) are complete, pertinent, and communicated to appropriate persons to maintain continuity of care.

• Collaborates and coordinates with other Respiratory leaders and hospital personnel to facilitate patient care.

• Assists staff in dealing with customer concerns as needed.

• Encourages utilization of Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (SBAR) format to maintain continuity of care.

• Uses communication board and patient care plan to keep nurse or other caregivers updated on patient's progress.

• Communicates to appropriate personnel regarding unresolved issues.

5. Assures all departmental operational activities are completed.

• Demonstrates teamwork with all therapists, clinical coordinator, bronchoscopy therapist, and respiratory care assistant and getting their cooperation.

• Assigns therapies and miscellaneous duties to therapists.

• Monitors and responds to any patient or personnel issues as they arise.

• Monitors staff assignments and assures all staff complete assignments prior to the end of their shift.

6. Manages environment and/or patient care situations to assure situations involving risks are addressed.

• Reports issues/ trends to System Director.

• Provides input into the development and revision of policy and procedures.

• Assures completion and follow up on Clinical Variance Reports, Patient / Family concerns, and staff issues.

• Monitors on an ongoing basis environmental safety issues and appropriate interventions take. e.g. refrigerator check and cleaning, microwave check and cleaning.

• Meets quality standards and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations(TJC), Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Service (CMS) guidelines (ready for survey at all times.)

7. Works with Respiratory Care Coordinator to maintain and coordinate/ assessment of all new/ transfer employees within the care process to assure competency of new staff.

• Coordinates new hires orientation with clinical coordinator and shift preceptors.

• Works with Coordinator to assist with the mentoring, supervising, and training of all Respiratory Care students.

8. Assures appropriate utilization of human resources, supplies/equipment, and budget.

• Assists with scheduling and staffing by utilizing QGenda scheduling system and following departmental staffing procedures.

• Adjusts staffing appropriate to census/guidelines and budget on a shift-by-shift basis.

• Monitors department activities to ensure optimal patient care and appropriate use of end of shift overtime.

• Identifies supply and equipment utilization problems and ensures appropriate inventions.

• Orders, monitors, and returns rental equipment as needed.

• Completes schedule change requests and staffing requests to fill staff vacancies on the schedule.

9. Assists with initiating homecare setups for patients requiring respiratory needs.

• Assists with facilitating respiratory homecare setups.

• Assures all staff is competent with trach teaching.

• Assures all staff documents tracheostomy/laryngectomy teaching in the patient's electronic medical record.

• Assures all staff updates patient care plans and goals to reflect appropriate tracheostomy/laryngectomy patients' needs are met.

10. Develops/ reviews/ revises plan of care as needed to provide optimum patient care outcome.

• Receives and interprets physician orders according to professional field of knowledge.

• Evaluates patients in cooperation with attending physician.

• Recommends appropriate care based on American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) clinical practice guidelines.

• Implements Respiratory Care protocols.

11. Helps mentor staff to attain Department Goals and abide by Hospital Core values.

• Conducts patient rounding to assure patient satisfaction. Reports patient feedback to therapists.

• Assists staff with implementing new protocols.

12. Performs technical skills competently and independently to assure patient safety. (Professional Development, Autonomy).

• Able to competently perform technical skills independently.

• Is accountable to learn new skills and equipment within areas’ specifications and time frames.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive.  The employee may be required to perform other related duties assigned to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

Schedule:

Nights - rotating weekends and holidays

Job Description:

Job Requirements

Education

• Advanced knowledge of respiratory care principles, practices and procedures such as management skills, research results, diagnostic methodologies, and new techniques normally acquired through completion of an Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care required. Bachelors of Science Degree preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 1-2 years of Respiratory experience required.

License/Certifications

• Registered Respiratory Therapist (R.R.T.) with the National Board of Respiratory Care required.
• Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP.NE or RCP.IA) license for work state required.
• Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) required at time of hire.
• Current American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification required.
• Current American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Life Support (PALS) Certification required within 6 months of hire.
• Current American Heart Association Neonatal Respiratory Program (NRP) Certification required within 6 months of hire.
• Satisfactory completion of annual mandatory education requirements required.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Requires a high degree of ability and skill in written and verbal communication to accurately relay appropriate and high quality recommendations to other members of the patient care team.
• Ability to multitask and prioritize work.
• Skill in the use of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook) and patient charting software as applicable.
• Knowledge of advanced respiratory care principles, practices and procedures.

Physical Requirements

Weight Demands

• Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force.

Physical Activity

• Occasionally Performed (1%-33%):
  • Climbing
  • Crawling
  • Kneeling
  • Sitting
• Frequently Performed (34%-66%):
  • Balancing
  • Carrying
  • Crouching
  • Distinguish colors
  • Keyboarding/typing
  • Lifting
  • Pulling/Pushing
  • Repetitive Motions
  • Standing
  • Stooping/bending
  • Twisting
  • Walking
• Constantly Performed (67%-100%):
  • Grasping
  • Hearing
  • Reaching
  • Seeing/Visual
  • Speaking/talking

Job Hazards

• Not Related:
  • Explosives (pressurized gas)
  • Electrical Shock/Static
  • Radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma (particles such as X-ray, Cat Scan, Gamma Knife, etc.)
  • Radiation Non-Ionizing (Ultraviolet, visible light, infrared and microwaves that causes injuries to tissue or thermal or photochemical means)
• Rare (1-33%):
  • Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex)
  • Mechanical moving parts/vibrations
• Occasionally (34%-66%):
  • Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact) Blood or Body Fluid (BBF)
  • Physical hazards (noise, temperature, lighting, wet floors, outdoors, sharps) (more than ordinary office environment)
  • Equipment/Machinery/Tools

About Methodist:

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, more than 30 clinic locations, a nursing and allied health college, and a medical supply distributorship and central laundry facility. From the day Methodist Hospital was chartered in 1891, service to our communities has been a top priority. Financial assistance, health education, outreach to our diverse communities and populations, and other community benefit activities have always been central to our mission.

Nebraska Methodist Health System is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by Federal, state or local law.