Job Description

Under the supervision of the Director of Respiratory Care and by physician order, administers all aspects of Respiratory care in a safe, effective manner.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Minimum Education

• Currently licensed and eligible to practice Respiratory Care in Kentucky.
• CPR, ACLS, PALS Required.

Minimum Work Experience

• Experience preferred but will provide on the job training.

Required Licenses

• [Kentucky, United States] Respiratory Therapists - Certified Respiratory Care Therapist

FUNCTIONAL DEMANDS

Physical Requirements

Sitting - 1-15%

Walking - 16-31%

Standing - 16-31%

Bending/Squatting - 16-31%

Climbing/Kneeling - 1-15%

Twisting - 1-15%

Visual and Hearing Requirements

Must be able to see with corrective eye wear if needed and read small print 20/20.

Must be able to hear clearly with assistance if needed and hear high and low pitched sounds.

Distinguish sounds on a telephone.

Distinguish colors.

Physical/Environmental requirements

Lifting - 0 -50 lbs, 50 or more with assistance

Carrying - 0- 50 lbs, 50 or more with assistance

Pulling - Up to 100 lbs

Pushing - Up to 100 lbs

Must be able to work 8-12 hours shifts.

Must work weekends and holidays.

LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES

Mission, Service and Values

Supports the hospital Mission, Service, and Values

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Maintains current CPR
• Assess patients systematically using clinical skills to establish and maintain the appropriate level of Respiratory Care to be administered.
• Adheres to policies and procedures regarding personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, patient isolations procedure and proper identification of patient.
• Documents necessary information regarding patient care, patient responses, and billing within the department and medical records.
• Demonstrates the assessment skills and ability to act independently in recognizing signs and symptoms of failure in the critically ill patient.
• Is able to make recommendations to physician based on information from assessment of intervention such as NIPPV or Mechanical Ventilation.
• Monitors the mechanically ventilated, critically ill patient by observing patients response and recognizing any adverse reactions and acting appropriately.
• Acts independently in the appropriate set up and use of NIPPV. RCP ensures the proper mask fit, adequate settings and bale to adjust parameters per lab values.
• Is able to assess patient ability to be off and to recognize patient inability to tolerate treatment.
• Communicates with family information about all mechanical devices used to support respiratory system and educates on diseases related to respiratory system and explains the effect on the patient's disease.
• Performs ABG puncture and analysis on critically ill patients.
• Consistently processes his/her own equipment including cleaning, sterilizing, drying, assembling and operation verification when applicable.
• Prepares assembles, and verifies function of all respiratory care equipment and is able to perform minor troubleshooting of all equipment.
• Assure that all areas that he/she is responsible for are well stocked.
• Appropriately removes medications from the medication system, and ensures accuracy in count, name and medication type.
• Accurately and completely enters information required documentation of medication administration.

Infant/Pediatrics

• Assesses infant/pediatric patients using appropriate clinical skills for the specific age group (behavior, non verbal signs and lab values).
• Interacts with patient and family to educate on disease and disease symptoms related to respiratory problems. Education will include mediations and home equipment used to deliver respiratory mediations.
• Sets up, operates, and monitors infant mechanical ventilation. Participates in the care of the critically ill infant/child. Assists in the coordination of care to include transport.
• Performs arterial and capillary blood gas sampling, appropriately caring for the sample and recognizing an unacceptable sample.