Job Objective:
Work under the management of the Director of Respiratory Therapy Services and the direction of the assigned Respiratory Therapy Supervisor. A Respiratory Therapist I must display knowledge and ability to provide respiratory care to a wide range of patients from Pediatric to Geriatric. A Respiratory Therapist I is able to work in the Intensive Care Unit or the Emergency room as well as Pediatrics and on all floors of the Hospital.
Duties and Responsibilities:
A. Maintains high standards of customer service
B. Provides routine bronchodilator therapy and patient assessment:
-
Uses Hand Held Nebulizer
-
Uses Metered Dose Inhaler
-
Competent with Continuous Nebulization
-
Can use IPPB
-
Able to identify different breath sounds, their meaning and recognize changes
-
Recognizes accessory muscle use
-
Uses Peak Flow Meter to assess efficacy of treatments
-
Performs Bedside Pulmonary Function Tests
C. Provides oxygen therapy:
-
Expert in standard 02 delivery devices, their uses and liter flow requirements
-
Able to use and set up both heated and cool aerosol therapy
-
Able to use and set up High-Flow Nasal cannula
-
Understands danger of 02 misuse, especially for CO2 retainers
D. Provides Critical Care:
-
Manages Ventilators on intubated patients
-
Obtains Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) or Capillary Blood Gases (CBGs) and recommends a course of action based on their results
-
Places and manages non-invasive ventilation on patients
-
Assists with intubations
-
Performs intubations in emergencies after certification
E. Provides Emergency Care.
-
Responds to all Code Blues
-
Is competent in bag and mask or bag and ET tube ventilation
-
Able to work under extreme pressure and stress
F. Documents and communicates well
-
Therapist must document therapies and evaluations completely and accurately in the patient record whether manually or electronically
-
Therapist must be responsible for assuring all actions are reflected in the daily billing by end of shift
-
Therapist must ensure all scheduled therapies are entered into the computer accurately
-
Must be able to communicate well with other members of the health care team, including doctors, nurses and other therapists
Non-Essential Duties:
-
Assists the Director of Respiratory Services and Supervisors or designee in completing alternate job duties as instructed.
-
Maintains a professional behavior
-
Always represents Antelope Valley Hospital and the Respiratory Therapy Department in a positive
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge
-
Thorough knowledge of Pulmonary Disease states, their signs, symptoms and treatments
-
Knowledge of and ability to use a wide variety of ventilation strategies to treat patients
-
Knowledge of current practice in the care of Geriatrics, and Pediatrics
-
Knowledge of medications used in Respiratory Therapy, their methods of administration, dosages, diseases treated, effects and adverse effects
-
Knowledge of pulmonary anatomy in adults and the effects of disease on the pulmonary anatomy
-
Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests and behaviors of age specific groups.
-
Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests, and behaviors of patients requiring critical or specialized care.
Skills
- Skill at drawing ABGs and CBGs
-
Demonstrated good communication skills.
-
Good organizational skills.
Abilities
-
Ability to accurately interpret results of ABGs and CBGs and initiate corrective action
-
Ability to assemble, test, and place into use all respiratory therapy equipment used at AVH for Adult and Pediatric care
-
Ability to think and act quickly in high-pressure situations
Education and Experience:
Education
- Graduate from school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school's location.
-
High School diploma or GED equivalent
Experience
- Minimum experience provided through Externship/internship program of accredited school for education of Respiratory Care Practitioners.
Required Licensure and/or Certifications:
-
Must be licensed with the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
-
Credentialed with the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. (RRT) If not already registered, staff will have five (5) years to obtain this credential.
-
Current BCLS Certification
-
Current PALS Certification
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
-
Frequently moving large ventilators on wheels, which weigh up to 150 pounds, throughout the hospital.
-
Moving tents and cylinders throughout the hospital.
-
Working in small or crowded rooms.
-
Working in all areas of the hospital.
-
Walking, stairs, out of doors in all weather conditions.
-
Frequently Lifting/Carrying 25-50 pounds and pushing/pulling 36-50 pounds throughout shift.
-
Able to use Personal Protection Equipment
-
Potential exposure to patient blood or body fluids
A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.
Education and Experience:
Education
- Graduate from school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school's location.
-
High School diploma or GED equivalent
Experience
- Minimum experience provided through Externship/internship program of accredited school for education of Respiratory Care Practitioners.
Required Licensure and/or Certifications:
-
Must be licensed with the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
-
Credentialed with the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. (RRT) If not already registered, staff will have five (5) years to obtain this credential.
-
Current BCLS Certification
-
Current PALS Certification
