Respiratory Therapist-Reg

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do — in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community.
** Benefits Eligible
** Not Benefits Eligible
** Work Shift
** Variable - 12 Hour Shift (United States of America)
** Department
* * 7720 Respiratory Therapy Under general supervision the RCP will perform all respiratory care related duties. Sets up and administers all routine and complex respiratory therapy procedures to patients of all ages in all areas of the hospital as prescribed by a physician. Responsible for the application and operation of acute care ventilators used for continuous short and long-term mechanical ventilation.

Maintain all department and hospital records and enters accurate information into the hospital computer for the therapy as given.

QUALIFICATIONS License /Certification

Required:

Current CA Respiratory Care Practitioner license

Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) from The National Board for Respiratory CareBLS      Department Specific Requirements  If assigned education duties, requires three years experience in an acute care facility, preferably with supervisory or educational/training responsibilities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES  Essential    Performs ventilator checks, assuring proper function of machine to ensure adequate ventilator support to patients. Performs more advanced therapy practices in the Intensive Care areas.
Administers IPPB and Aerosol treatments as prescribed by attending physician.
Performs and instructs patients on the use of postural drainage and percussion as prescribed by physician, assuring maximum secretion elimination.
Responds to Code Blue situation, performing life saving procedures under direction of physician.
Suctions patients using appropriate methods as described in the Respiratory Therapy procedure manual.
Relays pertinent information regarding patients and incidents to therapist on next shift. Receives information prior to beginning shift to better facilitate patient care.
Administers oxygen therapy, checking for proper functioning of oxygen equipment and therapeutic efficiency.
Performs bedside spirometry as pre- and post-bronchodilator test to chart patient progress.
Sterilizes and disinfects equipment according to manufacturers and department procedures. Assures all equipment is operating properly after processing.
Assists with training of respiratory and nursing students. Assists with in-service education to hospital personnel and the community.
Updates work schedule, adding and deleting patients as necessary. Assists with patient assignments with other members of the shift.
Charts all equipment rounds, oxygen rounds and administers treatments on all patients. Records all pertinent information on patient.
Assists with patient transport to other hospitals.
Assists in the development of Quality Assurance through therapeutic evaluation and monitoring.
Addendum (essential for specific dept)    EDUCATOR:

Assists with planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating staff education on assigned units. Collaborates with other Clinical Educators to develop written educational programs. Educational programs have measurable outcomes and are result-oriented. Develops, updates, and maintains current competency program for unit orientation and on-going staff development in collaboration with Director. Develops a mechanism to ensure that all Respiratory staff/unit staff complete department-specific orientation and follow-up with appropriate individual(s) when standard is not met.

Uses Performance Improvement (PI) information to improve patient care and staff education. Provides support and resource when there are identified educational needs/problems. Identifies and recommends selection of appropriate instructional material. Maintains records, files, and statistics pertinent to the job function. Completes special projects as assigned. Trouble shoots when there are technical or equipment problems.
PULMONARY FUNCTION:

Calibrates pulmonary function equipment prior to first use Monday-Friday including bedside spirometer. Maintains monthly calibration logs. Performs monthly bio-study to validate quality assurance. Performs spirometry tests including: FVC, SVC, MVV, and MIP. Performs diffusion capacity tests entering hemoglobin correction when appropriate. Performs body…