Respiratory Therapist Subacute

Job Title: Respiratory Therapist
Location: Long Beach, California
Company: Pacific Care Nursing Center

The Respiratory Care Practitioner is responsible for the care and safety of the residents who come under their care. Included within this assignment is the responsibility for assuring effective communication between themselves, Charge nurse, the resident, other staff, supervisors, physicians, and other hospital/skilled facility departments.

As Respiratory Care Practitioner, you are delegated the administrative authority, responsibility, and accountability necessary for carrying out your assigned duties.

Every effort has been made to identify the essential functions of this position. However, it in no way states or implies that these are the only duties you will be required to perform. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or is an essential function of the position.

1) Assignment of Care Based on Resident’s Assessment

a. Assesses residents on admission in a timely manner.

b. Uses clinical assessment skills accurately assessing each resident’s needs—physiological, psychosocial, safety, and educational.

c. Determines attending physician of any critical findings or changes following admission.

d. Develops a plan of care with nursing actions designated to meet the identified resident’s needs and revises as indicated.

e. Demonstrates that the care plan is utilized in providing resident care.

f. Documentation reveals that residents are assessed routinely, changes in symptoms and reactions are evaluated, and appropriate action is taken in response to those changes.

2) Diagnosis and Therapeutic Medical Staff Orders

a. Processes physician’s written and telephone orders on a timely basis.

b. Able to prioritize implementation of physician’s orders according to resident’s needs, physician’s requests, and interdepartmental procedures.

c. Demonstrates ability to carry out all treatments and procedures as ordered and according to policy and procedures.

3) Communication with Medical Staff and Ancillary Departments

a. Communicates resident’s needs to appropriate person and makes referrals to other departments when indicated.

b. Notifies attending physician of changes in resident’s condition in a timely and appropriate manner.

c. Interrelates with ancillary departments in a positive manner.

d. Communicates major changes in level of care to the nursing supervisor.

e. Updates the resident care plan each shift.

f. Documents resident’s response to treatments in therapy notes.

g. Assures completeness of therapy notes on a prompt basis and in an accurate manner.

h. Acts as an advocate in providing safe delivery of care.

i. Shows knowledge of Medical staff chain-of-command in following up of concerns.

4) Medication Administration

a. Is able to knowledgeably/safely provide all medications as ordered.

b. Periodically updates medication knowledge.

• Attendance at staff meetings.
• On unknown or questionable medications, reviews Physician Desk Reference (PDR) or insert provided by pharmacy and discusses with Charge nurse.

• Attendance at Continuing Education (CE) classes relating to new/updated meds.

c. Accurately document medication administration including time, date, route and signature.

d. Documents response to medication in the nursing notes and discharge summary. Refer adverse reactions to charge nurse and attending physician.

e. Documents allergies at the time of admission and send copies of admission information to pharmacy.

f. Uses pharmacist as a resource.

g. Initiate teaching of resident’s relative to medications being received.

h. Monitors psychotropic drug administration and documents according to policy in care plan summary.

5) Confidentiality

a. Handles all resident’s communication and documentation in a confidential manner.

b. Does not release resident’s information/records without following hospital’s policy including written permission.

6) Discharge Planning

a. Demonstrates knowledge of role of Social Worker, Discharge Planner, and Utilization Review Coordinator.

b. Contacts appropriate…