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.
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Registered Respiratory Therapist Requirements:
Current license by State of Florida, Department of Health, as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. Must hold current AHA BLS Healthcare Provider Completion Card prior to start date and maintain. ACLS and PALS are required within 90 days of start date and maintained. Certification(s) as required by specific unit. Communication and interpersonal skills. Organizational and prioritizing skills. This role supports four Health First hospital locations across Brevard County, includingHolmes Regional Medical Center (Melbourne), Palm Bay Hospital (Palm Bay), Cape Canaveral Hospital (Cocoa Beach), and Viera Hospital (Viera).A variety of shifts are available, and team membersmust be flexible and willing to float between locations as staffing needs require.
Physical Demands:
Work up to 12 hour shifts consisting mostly of walking and standing. Participate in prolonged CPR procedures. Visual acuity and hand eye coordination necessary to perform clinical tasks. Bend, stoop and assist lifting of patients as care requires. Regularly lift 50 pounds and push/pull 100+ pounds. Move quickly in crowded conditions and work with patients with many lines and machines attached. May be exposed to bio-hazardous waste, dust, aerosolized medication and unknown orcommunicable disease.
Mental Demands:
Work effectively in stressful environments with patients, family members andcolleagues. Communication and interpersonal skills. Organizational skills Make decisions concerning appropriate therapy and patient care. Rapidly respond to life threatening situations. Keeps abreast of issues regarding departmental changes, and new modalities in thefield of Respiratory Care. Additional Responsibilities Documents care according to policy by random check. Provides correct procedure to correct patient by checking two patient identifiers. Maintains equipment in good working order and troubleshoots when necessary; reports all malfunctioning equipment to appropriate area/associate with documentation ofproblem. Maintains a clean, neat, safe work environment at all times. Thorough documentation, including patient care, interdisciplinary Plan of Care, patient education, and charges appropriately for care provided. Completes shift duties and other assigned tasks in a timely manner. Gives report to oncoming shift on all patients and procedures, and assures completionof workload before leaving. Medication safety- removes only one patient's medication at a time from Pyxis system. Patient identification- Uses Pyxis med slip to appropriately identify two patient identifiers. Hand-off communication - reads back/verifies all verbal and telephone orders, reports patientinformation to the appropriate associate in a timely manner, follows established approach to reporting including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions. Other duties as assigned.
Note:
This role supports four Health First hospital locations across Brevard County, including Holmes Regional Medical Center (Melbourne), Palm Bay Hospital (Palm Bay), Cape Canaveral Hospital (Cocoa Beach), and Viera Hospital (Viera). A variety of shifts are available, and team members must be flexible and willing to float between locations as staffing needs require.
