Job Objective:
Under the direction of the Director of Respiratory Services and the Medical Director, the Respiratory Therapy Education Specialist is a specialized Respiratory Therapist that facilitates the professional development of Respiratory Therapy staff and other nursing team members as requested. The Respiratory Therapy Education Specialist is responsible for program coordination, skills and knowledge assessment and implementation of evidence-based practice and development and coordination of quality improvement initiatives. The Respiratory Therapy Education Specialist practices in accordance with Respiratory Therapist and Standards of Practice and Scope and Standards of his/her professional specialty. The continuing education duties include organizing and facilitating departmental educational activities of related records and participating in quality improvement initiatives for the respiratory department.
Major functions include:
- Integrates advanced clinical concepts and knowledge relevant to leadership, teaching, consultation and research to effect improvements in staff orientation and retention, in addition to effecting improvements in patient care and nursing practice.
- Serves as a clinical consultant and liaison to or between hospital supervisors, patient care associates, families, community members and Respiratory Therapy schools of nursing.
- Provides direct patient care as necessary for educational purposes and in emergency situations.
- Maintain high standards of customer service as a role model and ensure all Respiratory Therapists are doing the same.
- Assist in coordinating Respiratory Therapy Department performance improvement and patient safety plan and teaches it.
- Participates in special projects as assigned such as informatics coordinator for the department and issue resolution, protocol development and procedure standardization.
- Assist in the development of ongoing orientation and training for all Respiratory Therapy clinical activities.
- Acts as a resource for troubleshooting Respiratory Department equipment and participates in the evaluation of new equipment.
- Provides orientation and training for new employees and refresher training for existing employees.
- Functions as “trainer” on all Respiratory Therapy related computer activities and automated systems.
- Responsible for scheduling new staff for orientation and their preceptor
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
A. Collects data and information related to educational needs and other pertinent situations.
1. Collects data from multiple sources to define potential issues, problems, and needs.
2. Use analytical models and assessment tools that facilitate problem solving.
3. Use current technologies to facilitate comprehensive assessment of individual and organizational needs.
4. Prioritizes teaching skills and knowledge development needs. Works collaboratively with unit leaders and colleagues to formulate and implement a coordinated development plan.
5. Evaluates learning needs of respiratory staff based on changes of process, workflow, equipment, and Medical Center policy using evidence-based practice.
6. Utilizes appropriate metrics to demonstrate improvement in patient care based on clinical indicators, statistical data collections, core measures, risk management data, patient and staff surveys and any other valid peer-reviewed resources.
B. Implement strategies and techniques to achieve positive learning and practice environments.
-
Improves staff skills and knowledge using an effective collaborative model for staff education.
- Improves staff job satisfaction and retention via efficient collaborative teaching modalities, clinical preceptorship and mentoring programs.
-
Participates in actual teaching and training of respiratory staff as part of the collaborative team to maintain and enhance staff skills and knowledge within the entire institution.
- Incorporates concepts for high reliability in skills and knowledge development. Incorporates teaching methodologies that promote patient safety and evidence-based practice.
- Works collaboratively with unit leaders and colleagues to evaluate the need to modify staff skills and knowledge assessment practices on an ongoing basis.
C. Integrates teaching, consultation, leadership and research to influence plans, enhance the abilities of others and effect change.
-
Provides consultation recommendations that influence the identified plan. Incorporates relevant stakeholders in planning and implementation for required change.
-
Establishes formal and informal consultative relationships to enhance professional development and provide mentorship to other department members.
-
Develop and implement recommendations and strategies to address complex problems.
-
Selects and implements valid and reliable instruments and metrics to measure processes and outcomes.
-
Revises program and teaching methods based on evaluation of data and disseminates evaluation results to appropriate supervisors.
D. Develops and maintains personal skills, knowledge, and competency as necessary to utilize, train, and support users in electronic health records, documentation systems, and other patient care or support technologies in use by clinical staff of assigned area.
-
Participates in advanced training offerings to develop skills as a subject matter expert in systems and processes for clinical documentation.
-
Participates in discussions and planning prior to changes in workflow or process.
-
Participates in provision of new hire, orientation, renewal, and enhancement training to employees related to systems, forms, and downtime procedures.
-
Periodically reviews and re-instructs staff as necessary in agreed-upon documentation standards respective to their units.
Non-Essential Duties:
-
Copying, faxing.
-
Performs other duties as requested
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge
- Knowledge with mathematical concepts and the application of fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to practical situations.
- Demonstrates knowledge of legal and regulatory aspects of care, knowledge of legal documents pertinent to unit/area of care.
- Demonstrates knowledge of Patient Rights.
Skills
- Skilled in transferring concepts into practical applications.
- Skilled in reading, analyzing and interpreting common scientific and technical journals and understanding regulatory requirements.
- Time management skills in providing excellent patient care.
- Skilled in the safe and effective use of all equipment necessary to provide patient care.
- Skilled in current respiratory practices and procedures and the development of a plan of care that support positive respiratory outcomes.
- Excellent problem-solving, time management and organizational skills.
- Skills to prepare complete, clear reports and recommendations after appropriate analyses of relevant and reliable information.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Abilities
- Ability to provide and coordinate educational programs.
- Ability to plan and oversee orientation program for new employees.
- Ability to assess clinical skills of employees.
- Ability to develop written documents such as orientation check lists, policies and procedures, and clinical competency tools.
- Ability to instruct employees in care and operation of equipment pertinent to clinical area.
- Ability to define problems by collecting data, establishing facts and drawing valid conclusions.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
- Ability to teach the highest level of customer satisfaction at all times by providing a high degree of interaction with patient's and family members utilizing compassion and fostering effective communication.
- Ability to display a willingness to work as a team player.
- Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with coworkers, managers, and all other Medical Center staff.
- Ability to follow direction and accept and utilize constructive criticism.
- Ability to prioritize and maintain organization of workflow.
- Ability to function effectively under pressure, stress, emotional, and physical conditions while meeting time parameters.
AVMC Values: All AVMC employees will effectively demonstrate these values:
-
Patients Come First – We listen actively and communicate with our patients and families, placing safety as a top priority.
-
Accountability & Ownership – We fully complete tasks, are transparent, effectively communicate, and recognize that what we do reflects on us.
-
Teamwork – We build trusting relationships, promote a sense of community, and are respectful of everyone. Success is about the whole team.
-
Integrity & Honesty – We tell the truth at all times, speak up when something is wrong, and do the right thing when no one is looking.
-
Excellence – We take pride in our work, are goal-oriented, and on a never-ending quest for top tier quality.
-
Initiative & Innovation – Our can-do attitudes, creativity, and resourcefulness empower us to improve the patient’s experience, solve our own problems, make timely decisions, and look for opportunities to add value.
Tenderness & Compassion – We have genuine empathy, show kindness, and encourage and advocate for each other.
Education and Experience:
Education
- High School Diploma or GED required
- Graduate of a school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school’s location
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Prior Supervisory or Lead experience strongly preferred
Experience
- Minimum 5 years respiratory care experience in an acute care environment with NICU experience.
- PICU & ECMO experience preferred
- Experience with preceptor/mentorship for other respiratory employees and/or respiratory students.
- Adult teaching experience.
- Knowledge base of quality indicators and metrics designed to evaluate and improve outcomes.
- Prior Supervisory or Lead experience strongly preferred
Required Licensure and/or Certifications:
- Must be licensed with the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
- Unit specific specialty certification preferred
AVMC Conduct/Compliance Expectations:
- Ability to adhere with AVMC Attendance and Punctuality Policy.
- Ability to adhere with AVMC Leaves of Absence Policy.
- Ability to adhere with AVMC Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy.
- Ability to adhere to the department dress code.
- Ability to organize work and establish priorities.
- Ability to expand on own initiative in performance of duties.
- Skill and ability to follow the telephone etiquette/standards.
- Ability to function effectively under pressure and meet time parameters.
- Ability to communicate effectively while maintaining good working relationships with co-workers, managers and other hospital staff.
- Ability to adhere to the normal standards of courtesy and conduct as defined under the rules of hospitality at AVMC.
- Ability to maintain the confidentiality of patients, hospital and department information.
- Ability to adhere to safety rules and regulations.
- Safely and effectively use all the equipment necessary to carry out duties.
- Ability to interpret and function under hospital and department policies and procedures.
- Conforms with required and appropriate accreditation and regulatory requirements.
- Conforms with and supports hospital quality assurance and improvement guidelines.
- Ability to participate effectively in department and hospital staff education.
- Display a willingness to work as a team player.
- Ability to give and support the highest level of patient/customer satisfaction at all times.
- Supports and adheres to the values and mission statement established by the AVMC Board of Directors.
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Compliance & Integrity Program and its established policies.
- Ability to follow the Code of Conduct.
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- Occasionally pushing/pulling large ventilators on wheels, which weigh up to 150 pounds, throughout the hospital.
- Moving respiratory 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 and/or body fluids.
A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.
NOTE: THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK PERFORMED BY PEOPLE ASSIGNED TO THIS JOB. THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL RESPONSIBILITIES, SKILLS, AND WORKING CONDITIONS FOR THE PERSONNEL SO CLASSIFIED.
Education and Experience:
Education
- High School Diploma or GED required
- Graduate of a school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school’s location
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Prior Supervisory or Lead experience strongly preferred
Experience
- Minimum 5 years respiratory care experience in an acute care environment with NICU experience.
- PICU & ECMO experience preferred
- Experience with preceptor/mentorship for other respiratory employees and/or respiratory students.
- Adult teaching experience.
- Knowledge base of quality indicators and metrics designed to evaluate and improve outcomes.
- Prior Supervisory or Lead experience strongly preferred
Required Licensure and/or Certifications:
- Must be licensed with the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
- Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
- Unit specific specialty certification preferred
