Certified Respiratory Therapist

Overview

The Certified Respiratory Therapist provides services to adult through neonatal patients.  They provide general respiratory therapy, critical care, and limited diagnostics.  Therapists are expected to work and respond to all areas of the hospital.

Responsibilities

Performs and accurately records technical procedures safely, effectively, efficiently, and within scope of policy.

Gives rationale for actions, decisions, and clinical care, based on scientific principles, clinical practice guidelines, or successful experience.

Patient care procedures include:

• Oxygen/Aerosol Therapy
• Bronchial Hygiene
• Postural Drainage and Percussion
• Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing, VPEP, PEP, PAP
• Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation
• Cough Assist
• Aerosolized Medications
• Hand Held Nebulizer
• Metered Dose Inhaler
• Dry Powder Inhaler
• Adult/Pediatric/Neonatal Critical Care
• CPAP/BiPAP
• Mechanical ventilation including transport
• Blood collection and analysis
• Emergency tracheostomy tube replacement
• Bedside Pulmonary Function Testing

Demonstrate leadership skills

Requires decision making that will affect others

Responsible to achieve outcomes

Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately

Ability to delegate to team members and students

Must be able to receive delegation

Address conflict and stressful situation

Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion

Dealing with unpleasant or verbally/physically aggressive personalities

Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting

Must be able to work in groups

Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work

Participates on call rotation as needed for patient care

Must be meet time pressure and time lines

Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions

Requires wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.

Advocate for and participant in patient safety

Perform Low/High Level Disinfection as per manufacturer’s recommendation (IFU)

Performs and accurately records technical procedures safely, effectively, efficiently, and within scope of policy

Accountability related to meeting/exceeding department goals, DCH Values, DCH Mission and Vision

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Performs essential job functions in a manner that ensures the safety of patients, visitors and employees.
• Identifies and reduces unsafe practices that may result in harm to patients, visitors and employees.
• Recognizes and takes appropriate action to reduce risks and hazards to promote safety for patients, visitors and employees.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Current Alabama licensure. 

Holds active credential of Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) within one year of graduation

Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy, Bachelor’s degree preferred or holds a certificate in Respiratory Therapy 4. Membership in appropriate professional organization (i.e. American Association for Respiratory Care, Alabama Society for Respiratory Care) is strongly encouraged

BCLS provider

PALS preferred for staff working in the Emergency Department.

Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English

ACLS within one year of employment and NRP if NICU trained

Responsible for obtaining needed continuing education for licensure

Working Conditions:

WORK CONTEXT

• Environmental Conditions: Includes exposure to human fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions. Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.
• Psychological Conditions: Includes demonstrating leadership skills. Delegating to team members, addressing conflict, communicating with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes/results.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Ability to lift and carry up to a maximum of 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
• Able to reach reasonable distances in any direction.
• Ability to run in emergency situations.
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner.
• Must have ability to feel and perceive temperatures, texture, shape and size with fingertips.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.