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.
• 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

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

• Current approved Alabama Board of Nursing RN license or multi-state license required or ability to obtain prior to start.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required.
• BSN preferred, minimum Associates required
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

Required within 6 months of start date:  American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted

Cardiac/Critical Care:

• ACLS

Emergency Department-both campuses:

• ACLS
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

Emergency Department – Regional Campus only:

• Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)

Perioperative:

• ACLS
• PACU –PALS; ACLS

Women’s/Children:

• NICU –Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP)
• Labor & Delivery –ACLS, NRP, and Intermediate Fetal Monitoring
• Mother Baby Unit – NRP
• Pediatrics – PALS

Clinical Support:

• Cardiac Monitoring Unit –ACLS

Dialysis:

• ACLS

International RNs:

• Current approved Alabama Board of Nursing RN license or multi-state license required or ability to obtain prior to start.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider training required or obtain within 30 days of start date.
• BSN preferred, minimum Associates required
• Must be able to read, write legibly, speak, and comprehend English.

Working Conditions

WORK CONTEXT

• 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
• Must be able to 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.
• Schedules vary; every other weekend required. Weekends include Saturday & Sunday

PHYSICAL FACTORS

• Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.Must be able to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking
• Must be able to reach reasonable distances in any direction
• Must be able to stand, walk, kneel, bend, sit and stoop
• Must be able to run in an emergency
• Must have the ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull and carry objects
• Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner and must be ablet o feel and perceive temperature, texture, shape and size with fingertips
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation
• Must possess stamina to work prolonged shifts
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.

KEY WORD SEARCH

Staff Nurse, Registered Nurse, Nurse, RN