Respiratory Therapist

Summary

Reports to Pulmonary Services leadership. Respiratory Therapists evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Practicing under the direction of a physician and using professional assessment of the patient's condition, provide basic and advanced respiratory services assuming primary responsibility for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments, diagnostic procedures, and critical care. This includes administering various types of respiratory care to provide respiratory support and maintenance to inpatients and outpatients, medication administration, arterial puncture, and analysis, breathing exercises, initiation and monitoring of oxygen and carbon dioxide, mechanical ventilation, endotracheal intubation, airway care, attendance at emergent events like codes, trauma, rapid assessment, or deliveries. Patient population includes neonatal, newborn, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric. (Specific care modalities and patient population will be dependent to specific Beacon facility).

Classification level of Respiratory Therapist will be decided by pre-determined guides below:

• Level I- Less than two years' experience or does not meet qualifications of a Level II position.
• Level II- Independently functions in CCU, NICU, PICU, or Pulmonary Function Lab with minimum 2 years' experience and ability to validate independent skills to leadership. (eligible $3.00 ad-rate)
• Level III- All previous level requirements must be met in addition to performing one or more of the following: Performs surgical bronchoscopies, provides independent respiratory support during a NICU/PICU transport, valid certified and/or registered pulmonary function technologist exam and/or valid specialty exam credentials from NBRC in your qualifying area of practice. (eligible for an additional $2.00 ad-rate for a maximum of $5.00, not per each skill).

Level eligibility will be dependent to specific Beacon facility and available areas of practice within that hospital.

MISSION, VALUES and SERVICE GOALS

• MISSION: We deliver outstanding care, inspire health, and connect with heart.
• VALUES: Trust. Respect. Integrity. Compassion.
• SERVICE GOALS: Personally connect. Keep everyone informed. Be on their team.

Performs the functions of a Respiratory therapist by:

• Demonstrating proficiency in Adult, Pediatric, and/or Neonatal critical care equipment, and procedures.
• Adheres to intubation, transportation of patients, bedside bronchoscopy, and attends high risk deliveries per facilities policy and procedures.
• Collaborate and communicate with physicians, and other associates to optimize patient care, including participation in daily rounds where applicable.
• Maintains advanced certifications for appropriate critical care area.
• Ensures proper administration of a variety of respiratory treatments.
• Adhering to the physician's orders and use of established Respiratory Care Protocols.
• Effectively completing and analyzing diagnostic tests and results.
• Determining the most suitable method of administering inhalants, precautions to be observed and modifications necessary to provide respiratory care to patients.
• Establishing priorities for patient care/job activities based on acuity of need.
• Explaining treatment and breathing procedures to patients to allay fears and anxieties and to elicit cooperation during therapy.
• Setting up, attaching to patient, operating, and monitoring various types of respiratory equipment such as: ventilators, CPAP/BiPAP, and oxygen devices.
• Documenting patient treatment activities and results.
• Maintaining Respiratory Therapy equipment; assembly, testing, cleaning, and/or sterilizing.

Department Equipment/ Resources:

• Re-stocks supply carts/areas at the end of the shift for the on-coming shift.
• Cleans equipment using appropriate infection control, assembles, and performs required safety checks on equipment.
• Restocks supplies in key work storage areas to ensure adequate supplies are available.
• Returns clean and/or discontinued equipment to the department in a timely manner and no later than the end of the shift.
• Demonstrates ability to operate and troubleshoot equipment.
• Follows department policy regarding medication security.

Meets Pulmonary Services Department education requirements by:

• Precepting orientees, students and other Pulmonary Services team members as requested.
• Willingly share educational information to other associates and students as needed to support their professional development.
• Completing all competencies, CBL's and skill validations as scheduled for each area.
• Attending department professional development lectures as applicable to work area.
• Follows all hospital, regulatory and department training, testing and validation within timeline established.

Performs other functions to maintain personal competence and contribute to the overall effectiveness of the department by:

• Consistently documenting in a complete and accurate manner all patient care. procedures, protocols, and education in the Electronic Medical Record.
• Ensuring that all procedures performed are charged appropriately prior to leaving at the end of the shift, including daily charges.
• Attending department meetings either live or virtually.
• Keep current with professional literature and journals.
• Reading and being accountable for hospital communications such as department emails, meeting minutes, memos, Beacon emails, or newsletters.
• Completing other job-related duties and projects as assigned.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Associate complies with the following organizational requirements:

• Attends and participates in department meetings and is accountable for all information shared.
• Completes mandatory education, annual competencies, and department specific education within established timeframes.
• Completes annual employee health requirements within established timeframes.
• Maintains license/certification, registration in good standing throughout fiscal year.
• Direct patient care providers are required to maintain current BCLS, ACLS, NRP, and PALS if applicable and other certifications as required by position/department.
• Consistently utilizes appropriate universal precautions, protective equipment, and ergonomic techniques to protect patient and self.
• Adheres to regulatory agency requirements, survey process and compliance.
• Complies with established organization and department policies.
• Available to work overtime and or additional shifts when required.

Commitment to Beacon's six-point Operating System, referred to as The Beacon Way:

• Leverage innovation everywhere.
• Cultivate human talent.
• Embrace performance improvement.
• Build greatness through accountability.
• Use information to improve and advance.
• Communicate clearly and continuously.

Education and Experience

• The knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated below are normally acquired through the successful completion of an associate degree in respiratory therapy. Must maintain a current license as a Respiratory Therapist through the state in which you will work and by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NRBC). If registry is eligible, the expectation is to obtain RRT credential within one year from date of hire. Credentialing exceptions will be made per leadership discretion. Preferred membership in the professional organization American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC). Experience with different modalities or ability to be skills validated, ability to assist and run equipment independently.

Knowledge & Skills

• Requires well-developed knowledge of application and effects of respiratory therapy techniques and procedures.
• Demonstrates interpersonal skills necessary for effective communication with patients, families, physicians, co-workers, and associates.
• Requires ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all caregivers.
• Requires analytical skills necessary to determine appropriate methods of therapy based upon observation of patient and diagnostic reports to solve complex patient problems.
• Requires ability to handle a multitude of tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Requires ability to handle emergency situations in a calm, professional manner.
• Demonstrates self-motivation by using available work time wisely.
• Requires an in-depth knowledge of advanced respiratory critical care including patient assessment, emergency procedures, theory and function of all equipment used in the critical care setting, and monitoring techniques in Critical Care (per facility availability).

Working Conditions

• Works in a patient care environment with occasional exposure to communicable disease, radiation, or from use of chemical solutions for disinfection.
• Must be able to work under high levels of stress.

Physical Demands

• Requires the physical ability and stamina (i.e. to walk/stand for prolonged periods of time, push carts/equipment up to 50 pounds, to position/lift patients at a maximum of 35 pounds unassisted, over 35 pounds requires assistance, provide CPR, etc.) to perform the essential functions of the position.