Description

Job Summary

Performs all respiratory therapy patient modalities prescribed under a physician's order. Assigned primarily to MedSurg. If assigned to ICU, will follow the lead of a Registered Respiratory Therapist II or greater.

Job Specific Duties

• Assesses patients in terms of clinical condition (heart rate, respiratory rate, etc.) and documents findings (Pre/Post therapy) in an accurate and timely manner. Provides feedback to physician(s).
  
• Ensures proper communication between physicians and families. Serves as a patient advocate/educator and provides family support and community resources.
  
• Provides patient information and effectively completes hand off process to peers using SBAR at shift change and patient reassignments.
  
• Provides education to patients/families on the continuing plan of care to include medications and side effects; updates patients/families daily on Plan of Care (POC).
  
• Participates in Lean initiative to assess and improve processes for opportunities to deliver higher quality, cost effective care, with greater customer service as measured by metrics.
  
• Participates in rounds with medical team and discusses initial (new) and follow up cases with MD and documents note.
  
• Serves as backup for all emergency codes (blue, rapid response, code orange).
  
• Performs and tests invasive and non-invasive modalities for home ventilators.
  
• Performs basic respiratory therapy for medical/surgical patients such as aerosol delivery, airway clearance, HFNC, Trach care, oral/Nasal suctioning and chest physiotherapy.
  
• Performs and tests invasive and non-invasive ventilators, such as Conventional, HFO, HFJ and Home ventilators. Initiates therapy, and monitors patient/ ventilator. Ensures ventilator is working and documents equipment settings. Manages and documents findings of ETT.
  
• Performs and test Special Gas equipment, such as Nitric Oxide, He-liox, Nitrogen. Initiates therapy and monitors patient. Ensures equipment is working properly and documents equipment settings.
  
• Performs Blood Gases.
  
• Performs all Quality Assurance on equipment and reports any malfunction. Removes equipment and documents if equipment failure impacted patient outcomes. Completes incident report and tags equipment.
  
• Follows all Infection Control standards and ensures proper use of Personal Protective Equipment per hospital policy and procedures to ensure safe patient care.

Qualifications

Minimum Job Requirements

• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) license issued by the state of Florida
  
• NBRC - Ntl Board Respiratory Care
  
• American Heart Association BLS - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment
  
• American Heart Association ACLS required within 30 days of hire - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment
  
• American Heart Association PALS required within 30 days of hire - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment
  
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program NRP American Academy of Pediatrics required within 30 days of hire - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Associate degree in respiratory care preferred.
  
• Knowledge of Spanish or Creole preferred.
  
• Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.
  
• Ability to interpret, adapt, and react calmly under stressful conditions typical of an ICU environment.
  
• Ability to problem solve and adapt standard clinical procedures to patients needs associated with pediatric and neonatal population.
  
• Ability to relate cooperatively and constructively with patients, families, and peers.
  
• Ability to learn appropriate software application(s) used for patient documentation and medication administration.
  
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
  
• Excellent customer service skills.
  
• Ability to react quickly to new challenges, unanticipated events, and resolve issues and address requests in a timely fashion.

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