Respiratory Therapist; RT - Pediatrics - Per Diem

Location

Advocate Children's Hospital - 4440 W 95th St, Oak Lawn

Per Diem

Responsible for providing and coordinating comprehensive respiratory care. The Respiratory therapist administers respiratory care procedures and modalities in accordance with established standards, policies, and procedures. Using evidence-based practices, clinical decision making, and skilled communication, the therapist compassionately leads efforts to create the safest patient environment and the best patient experience across the continuum.

• Uses Respiratory therapy processes to support assessment of patient utilizing a variety of skills such as pulmonary diagnostics, chest radiograph, hemodynamic values, laboratory values, and correlates blood gases and electrolytes. Can identify and address the special needs of patient population specific to department services.
• Operates specialized ventilators in critical and non‑critical care venues. Assists physician with bedside or other procedures as applicable to facility.
• Provides medication treatments and therapies per physician order and/or patient‑driven respiratory protocols as prescribed.
• Cleans, maintains, and ensures proper functionality of equipment. Troubleshoots equipment as necessary and identifies the need for service and/or repair.
• Educates and instructs patients in purpose, technique, self‑care, goal of therapy, and disease management.
• Facilitates clinical problem solving and collaborates with other departments to provide education on managing patients.
• Under physician direction, the respiratory therapist must be able to adapt and comply to policies and procedures for a variety of different service areas, perform tasks and/or special duties as required by assignment and maintain performance standards and organizational behaviours.
• Demonstrates effective communication, feedback, and conflict resolution skills. Provides clear, concise, timely, and accurate patient handoff.
• Promotes a culture of safety by recognising and applying proper safety measures to prevent patient harm. Reports patient safety events and near misses in a timely manner. Seeks to identify potential safety issues and assists in the implementation of corrective actions.
• Teaches, educates, and precepts new teammates, orientees, and students.
• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served. Must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life‑span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient’s status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient’s requirements relative to his/her age‑specific needs.

• Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) licence issued by the state in which the team member practices.
• Active Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) within 12 months OR active Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential issued by the NBRC if credential received prior to January 1, 2023.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association (AHA).
• See Education/Certification Addendum for any additional site‑specific requirements.

Graduate from an accredited respiratory care programme, with a minimum of an associate degree.

No experience required.

• Effective organisational, interpersonal and problem‑solving skills.
• Problem solving and decision making for patient care and equipment use.
• Proficient computer skills, use of e‑mail and electronic medical record systems.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal), listening and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates human relation skills with the ability to develop rapport and maintain positive, professional relationships with a variety of patients, team members, and physicians. Ability to take initiative and work collaboratively with others.
• Demonstrates time‑management skills with an ability to multi‑task and prioritise in an environment with…