Respiratory Therapist RRT Nights

Position Function

The Respiratory Therapy Department follows the American Association For Respiratory Care Clinical Practice Guidelines (AARC CPG) for patient care. Respiratory Therapists work in a physician supervised environment, providing critical care services to patients of all ages.

Reports to the Technical Manager of Respiratory Therapy (or designee). Interacts with other health care professionals to plan, provide, monitor, and evaluate respiratory care services for out patients.

Has the authority to provide all facets of critical care respiratory therapy based upon patient assessment and within hospital/department policies, procedures, and the AARC CPG. In the event of an untoward response, initiates appropriate emergency procedures and remains at bedside until relieved.

• Provide superior customer service to internal and external clients, customers, and patients as referenced in the Service Excellence Standards.
• Review the medical record including physician orders for completeness, indications for therapy, and potential contraindications prior to administering therapies/medications in accordance with AARC CPG.
• Conduct a clinical patient assessment including cardiac, pulmonary, and neurologic status. Assemble equipment in accordance with manufacturers specifications and departmental standards; confirm equipment function prior to use and monitor during use.
• Administer ordered therapy while clinically monitoring patient for outcome, hazards, or complications. Maintain, monitor, measure, and adjust mechanical ventilators appropriately to assure proper function and therapeutic effectiveness.
• Perform routine oxygen, aerosol, and emergent airway management, chest physiotherapy, postural drainage, and/or sputum induction to maintain patient airways in accordance with AARC CPG.
• Perform assessments of patients and deliver systems (i.e., ventilator systems) on a regular basis in accordance with AARC CPG and departmental standards.
• Document patient assessments, therapies delivered, patient monitoring, responses to therapies, and complications within the medical record in accordance with AARC CPG.
• Provide emergency response for cardiopulmonary arrest, respiratory emergencies, hospital disasters and other emergencies as needed; deliver basic life support maneuvers and maintain AHA BLS certification on an annual basis.
• Act as a member of the health care delivery team assisting in the development and implementation of multidisciplinary patient care plans. Document assessment of patient response to ongoing care and participate in the reevaluation of care delivery.
• Assist in pulmonary rehabilitation of difficult to wean patients. Provide routine care, cleaning, disinfecting and maintenance of departmental equipment. Document equipment malfunction and alert supervisor. Assist with maintaining stock levels.
• Measure using appropriate instrumentation: pulmonary function, gas exchange, respiratory rate, tidal/minute ventilation, alveolar‑to‑arterial PO2 gradient, intrapulmonary shunt fraction, respiratory mechanics, pulse rate, blood pressure, arterial blood gases, end‑tidal CO2, pulse oximetry. Calibrate and maintain pulmonary function equipment and other departmental equipment in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.
• Assist with the performance of bronchoscopes, sleep studies, bronchial provocation, and exercise testing for evaluation of hypoxemia and/or desaturation studies when appropriately trained.
• Maintain departmental documentation including patient charting, departmental therapy records, quality assurance, patient charges.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of departmental quality assurance programs and…