Respiratory Therapist

Job Summary

The Part Time Respiratory Therapist position will consider CRT, RRT, and all levels of the career ladder. The final title and pay will be determined by education, experience, and certification.

The Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) provide all modes of respiratory care and diagnostics on physician order within Critical Care, General Care Medical/Surgical units, and specialty departments as required. They act on a broad knowledge base and experience in working with physicians and other health‑care providers, often without direct supervision. The Registered Therapist may also act as a resource person for other department members.

• Performance of Technical Practice
  • Provides highly technical Respiratory Care procedures in any environment following unit specific orientation
  • Initiates and maintains ventilator management for patients on life support except at Westmoreland Manor
  • Performs arterial puncture and blood gas analysis
  • Provides cardiopulmonary resuscitation for all age groups served
  • Maintains and monitors the function of all Respiratory Care equipment in use
  • Acts as a resource to other health care providers regarding clinical issues
• Assesses patients for required respiratory care services and reassesses daily or as needed
• Administers inhaled medications, monitors patient reaction, and reports response or adverse reaction to nurse and physician
• Provides patient and family or caregiver education related to disease process, therapy, medication, dosage, methods, and equipment use
• Participates in interdisciplinary care‑planning and discharge planning as required by various nursing or patient care units
• Assimilates large quantities of data while caring for critically ill patients
• Modifies and directs respiratory care procedures and diagnostics based on acquired data and patient clinical findings
• Assists with coordination of patient care relating to cardiopulmonary dysfunction in cooperation with physician, nurse, and other health care providers
• Policy and Procedure
  • Understands department policy and procedure to assure compliance
  • Avoids deviation from policy and/or procedure preventing potential adverse effects on employee, patient, or visitor
  • Reviews departmental policy and procedure annually and makes recommendations for appropriate changes
• Communication
  • Provides clear, concise, organized written and oral communication to management and staff
  • Interacts effectively with physicians, patients, management, and co‑workers
  • Documents in a neat, timely and legible fashion as appropriate
  • Documents in EMR per department guidelines
  • Serves as a liaison and positive role model to other departments
  • Communicates directly with physician regarding patient respiratory status, recommendations for therapy, and diagnostic testing
• Takes and transcribes verbal and telephone orders from physicians
• Maintains supply and inventory in assigned areas
• Notifies appropriate personnel of stock depletion as it occurs
• Keeps department and other areas of responsibility clean and orderly
• Other duties as assigned

• Information Processing
  • Transcribes and carries out orders correctly
  • Utilizes all applicable information systems appropriately
  • Charges equipment, supplies and services accurately
• Quality Assessment and Improvement
  • Demonstrates ongoing awareness and participation in quality improvement program
  • Responds with improved performance to results obtained from QA monitors
  • Identifies problems and reports to manager when appropriate
• Locates and uses reference manuals
  • Maintains a working knowledge of department and system policy and procedure
  • Locates and uses department and system protocols, procedures, and policy manuals such as infection control, MSDS, OSHA, and online policy manuals
• Performs specialized procedures, tasks, and functions. These may vary between entities and not all RCPs will perform these functions. Specialized orientation/training will be provided to RCPs performing the following tasks.
  • Performs therapeutic and diagnostic bronchoscopy procedures
  • Completes blood gas and electrolyte analysis
  • Performs all required diagnostic pulmonary function testing
  • Completes pulmonary stress and metabolic testing
  • Functions as a member of the Rapid Response team
  • Participates as an integral member of emergency resuscitation teams serving all age groups
  • Performs EKGs
  • Performs intravenous catheter insertion and phlebotomy on patients

• Completion of an accredited Respiratory Therapy Program
• Graduate of JRCRTE approved respiratory care program with a minimum of three (3) to six (6) months of clinical rotations
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience
• Medical terminology
• Basic math and keyboard proficiency
• Functional skills on PC and related software (Microsoft Office)
• Knowledge of basic office equipment such as copier, fax machine, etc.
• Strong time…