A Respiratory Therapist assists patients who have trouble breathing because of a chronic respiratory illness, trauma, or other conditions. Administers tests to diagnose breathing problems, performs treatments to help patients breathe easier, or sets up breathing equipment such as ventilators. Works closely with physicians and other healthcare workers, and may also assist in providing emergency care to patients suffering from heart attacks, drowning, or shock. Works in hospitals; may also provide care and counseling to patients in their homes.
Graduate of an accredited two year Respiratory Therapy program is required
Current license in the State of California is required
Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support required (CPR)
Registration by NBRC preferred
ACLS required
Job Details:
Start Date:
Open Until Filled.
Qualifications:
Graduate of an accredited two year Respiratory Therapy program is required
Current license in the State of California is required
Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support required (CPR)
Registration by NBRC preferred
ACLS required
Two years of satisfactory clinical experience is desirable
Ability to work safely and accurately with minimal supervision
Duties & Responsibilities:
Job Summary The Respiratory Care Practitioner performs direct patient care to patients in all aspects of respiratory care according to the physician's orders/approved protocols, with consideration given to the age of the patient. Consults physicians on the effectiveness of therapy and makes appropriate recommendations. Provides appropriate ventilation support, maintains and monitors other pulmonary life support equipment. Maintains and properly utilizes respiratory equipment Duties Identifies breath sounds, recognizes abnormal breath sounds, recognizes abnormal arterial blood gases, identifies amount and character of secretions, determine need for supplemental oxygen/suction
Reports changes in patient's status to charge nurse or physician and staff caring for patient
Documents Respiratory Care consistent with hospital charting standards
Complies with hospital policy for receiving doctor's orders, including verbal and phone
Accurately gives report to oncoming shift
Reports extraordinary patient problems to supervisor, director or administrator as necessary
Complies with hospital policies and procedures for selected precautions, i.e.; seizure, suicide
Uses principles of body mechanics in mobilizing patient or objects
Asks for help when lifting heavy patients
Complies with policies for restraints
Complies with policies for electrical safety
Checks the Emergency Equipment policy
Incorporates infection control principles in practice
Demonstrates skills related to the management of emergency situations
Complies with policy for cardio-pulmonary arrest
Demonstrates competency for ABG drawing and sampling
Demonstrates competency for Quality Control and ABG analyzers
Demonstrates skills to trouble shoot ABG analyzers
Demonstrates skills to run PFT screens
Complies with Policy and Procedure for oxygen
Complies with Policy and procedure for ventilator care
The RCP should possess a wide range of psychomotor or mechanical skills so that decisional, educational and administrative skills requiring eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity and sensory perception can be applied efficaciously in diagnosing and treating the critically ill patient. These psychomotor skills include, but are not limited to, the following:
Ability to perform physical assessment of the patient through the use of a stethoscope, blood pressure apparatus, respirometer, pressure manometer, and other instruments in addition to the use of the practitioner's tactile, auditory, and olfactory senses
Visual recognition of common signs of illness and distress is paramount
Ability to perform arterial puncture successfully, expeditiously, and traumatically for the purpose of determining the arterial blood gas/acid-base status
Ability to use safely indwelling arterial, venous and intracardiac or intrapulmonary catheters to obtain blood samples for analysis or vascular pressure measurements
Ability to correctly maintain, operate, calibrate, and troubleshoot blood gas analyzers, Oximetry and related instrumentation
Ability to perform efficacious and atraumatic nasotracheal suction or tracheal lavage to maintain bronchopulmonary hygiene
Ability to perform basic life support maneuvers efficaciously, such as maintenance of a patent anatomical airway, external cardiac compression, and artificial ventilation by way of mouth-to-mouth, bag-and-mask and related ventilatory techniques
Ability to maintain, monitor, measure and adjust mechanical lung ventilators appropriately to assure proper function and to ascertain therapeutic effectiveness
Ability to measure, using appropriate available instrumentation, the following: variables of ventilatory gas exchange, and Hemodynamic function: respiratory rate; tidal and minute ventilation; dead space ventilation; alveolar-to-arterial P02 gradient; intrapulmonary shunt fraction; respiratory mechanics, including total resistance and static and dynamic compliance; Hemodynamic variables that may include pulse rate, blood pressure, ventricular stroke work; and oxygenation variables that may include arterial and mixed venous oxygen contents and total systemic oxygen contents and total systemic oxygen transport Qualifications 1.Graduate of an accredited two year Respiratory Therapy program is required 2.Current license in the State of California is required 3.Certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support required (CPR) 4.Registration by NBRC preferred 5.PALS, ACLS & NRP certifications required 6.Two years of satisfactory clinical experience is desirable 7.Ability to work safely and accurately with minimal supervision Lifting requirements: Sedentary- generally not more than 10 lbs. maximum and occasionally lifting and/or carrying such articles as ledgers, files and small items.
