? 3 Days Left! Respiratory Therapist- Adult Critical Care- (36hrs/wk, Rotating) Sign-on Bonus Available Position Available In Suffolk, Massachusetts

Job Description:

Company Description It takes a lot of very smart, hard-workingand talented people to provide the level of care that we give toour patients. Tufts Medical Center is an internationally respectedacademic medical center and we pride ourselves not only on thesophistication of the care we deliver, but the compassionate way inwhich we provide it. And that starts with our employees. JobDescription This position is responsible for respiratory care forpatients of all age groups, who are diagnosed with cardio-pulmonarydysfunction. Services are provided throughout the Tufts MedicalCenter are complex. This includes the ICUs, in-patient rooms, theEmergency Room, and outpatient clinics. A request for serviceoriginates from the medical staff of Tufts Medical Center. It maybe written or verbal and can be communicated to the therapist bydirect telephone conversation and/or beeper page. The patient’snurse or unit secretary conveys the order. All patients areassessed for their needs initially and on an on-going basis untilno longer required. Documentation of services provided is recordedin the Respiratory Therapy Progress Notes section located on thedepartment flow sheet. A copy of this document is filed in thepatient Medical Record. A list of the specific practices availableby this department is noted below. A Respiratory Therapist is underthe direction of the Director and Assistant Director of RespiratoryCare. Patient services are available 24 hours/day, 365 days/year.

Services are provided in accordance to policies and proceduresagreed upon by the Medical Directors of the department. ClinicalPractice Guidelines have and continue to evolve as the framework ofclinical respiratory care practice. These practices are wellreferenced and sponsored by the American Association forRespiratory Care. Opportunities for growth and career expansioninclude:

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Neonatal andpediatric training
• Advanced certifications:

ACLS, NRP, PALS

• Incentive career ladder supporting expanded skillsets
• Participation in neonatal and pediatric transport program
• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) training
• Participationin orientation of new employees, primary preceptor opportunities
• Quality and Safety initiatives: participating in composing andmaintaining clinical practice guidelines and protocols
• Participation in various departmental and critical care researchopportunities
• Initiates patients on invasive and non-invasivemechanical ventilation; routinely checks and maintains properfunction of ventilator in conjunction with the physician order.
• Abides with infection control guideline for invasive andnon-invasive equipment per departmental policy. Changes and adjustsventilator parameters based on clinical assessment and blood gasanalysis in accordance with physician orders.
• Weans patients frommechanical ventilation and other therapies through patientassessment and adjusting parameters within prescribed protocols.
• Administer inhaled medications in accordance with institutionalguidelines derived from the department of respiratory care andpharmacy.
• Administers oxygen using low flow, high flow, open andclosed circuits.
• Embodies patient and family centered care.

Explains procedures to patients and family.

• Provides services toanalyze blood specimens for blood gases, glucose and electrolytesin neonatal and pediatric intensive care units.
• AdministersPositive Pressure Breathing, (e.g. CPAP or BiPAP), which consistsof the application of positive pressure to the upper airway topromote better lung inflation and aerosol distribution.
• Routinelyassists in the transport of patients requiring life-support to andfrom referral hospitals.
• Provides in-house transport ofmechanically ventilated and other high-risk patients.
• Providesnon-traditional therapies, e.g. Nitric Oxide gas administration, asordered.
• Provides resuscitation and support services at allhigh-risk deliveries.
• Monitors effectiveness of therapy usingnon-invasive techniques such as pulse oximetry, end tidal CO2 andtranscutaneous PO2/PCO2, in addition to invasive techniques such asarterial blood gas sampling.
• Analyzes inspired oxygenconcentration using various oxygen analyzers.
• Calibrates monitorsand maintains Transcutaneous Oxygen Monitors, End Tidal CO2 andpulse Oximetry monitors.
• Assists in Cardio-PulmonaryResuscitation as part of Code Team primarily providing airwaymanagement and manual resuscitation. Commonly administers drugs viathe endotracheal tube during cardiopulmonary rescue e.g. Lidocaine,Atropine Sulfate and Epinephrine.
• Documents therapy, patientassessment, and interventions performed and test results in theprogress notes of the medical record in a concise, accurate, andthorough manner.
• Transcribe a detailed shift note for allpatient’s cared for during the shift.
• Responsible foracknowledging the proper assembly of all respiratory therapyequipment prior to and during patient use.
• Performs daily roundsand fairly bills patients for services rendered.
• Attend roundsdaily with the intensive care unit critical care team and is anactive participant in the patient’s care.
• Assists withdevelopment of in-service programs for departmental personnel.
• Assists the Associate Director with the orientation of newemployees; acts as a preceptor for new employees and is utilized asa clinical instructor for students enrolled in local universities
• Administers therapeutic agents such as Heliox, Surfactant,Tobramycin, Ribavirin and Pentamidine in accordance withestablished Departmental procedure.
• Provides services for newclinical programs as research protocols are developed.

Qualifications

JOB KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Ability to walk andstand for approximately 90% of the time.
• Ability to transportrespiratory therapy equipment (up to 100 lbs.) using carts orwheels on the equipment to and from patient areas.
• One needs todemonstrate the ability to communicate with and assess the patientneeds of different age populations to provide the necessary care.

This will be demonstrated by supervisory review of Daily ShiftNotes documented in all areas of clinical practice. Skills will berated as part of your Performance Appraisal.

• Ability to performall required duties under emergency and extreme stress situations
• When cross-trained to perform neonatal and pediatric services,one is expected to acquire and maintain NRP and PALS certification
• Demonstration of competency is required on an annual basis.

Thiswill include computer based training and evaluation in adult,pediatric and neonatal mechanical ventilators.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree level in health profession, science or equivalentis preferred.
• Associates degree in Respiratory Therapy isrequired.
• Must possess the RRT credential.
• Knowledge of medicalterminology, physiology of the cardiopulmonary system andrespiratory therapy science.

EXPERIENCE

• One to two years on thejob experience in acute and critical care.
• An equivalentcombination of education and experience which provides proficiencyin the areas of responsibility listed above may be substituted forthe above education and experience requirements

LICENSES, ETC

• Must be currently licensed and in good standing with the LicensureBoard of Registration of Massachusetts.
• Must be a RegisteredRespiratory Therapist, be issued Registration from the NationalBoard of Respiratory Care.

AGE SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

Possesses andapplies the skills and knowledge necessary to provide care topatients throughout the life span, with consideration of agingprocesses, human development stages and cultural patterns in eachstep of the care process.

This includes:

• Knowledge of growth anddevelopment
• Ability to interpret age specific data and responseto care
• Provide age specific communication

WORKINGCONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Most work is performed on patientfloors, emergency room, outpatient clinics, and respiratory therapyworkrooms.
• Exposure to infectious patients, blood products, andcontaminated equipment.
• Works with high-pressure gas systems anduses gas mixtures which support combustion.
• Exposed topotentially toxic aerosols such as RibavirinÒ and PentamidineÒ andpoisonous gases e.g. nitric oxide & nitrogen dioxide.
• Frequentcontact with patients and their families, medical and nursingstaff, unit secretary and other employees.

Tufts Medicine is aleading integrated health system bringing together the best ofacademic and community healthcare to deliver exceptional, connectedand accessible care experiences to consumers across Massachusetts.

Comprised of Tufts Medical Center, Lowell General Hospital,MelroseWakefield Hospital, Lawrence Memorial Hospital of Medford,Care at Home

• an expansive home care network, and large integratedphysician network.

We are an equal opportunity employer and valuediversity and inclusion at Tufts Medicine. Tufts Medicine does notdiscriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status,national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital statusor any other characteristic protected by federal, state or locallaw. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are providedreasonable accommodation to participate in the job application orinterview process, to perform essential job functions, and toreceive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contactus to request accommodation by emailing us atcareers@tuftsmedicine.org.