Respiratory Therapist

Overview

Provide respiratory care services that are covered under the employee's limited license to practice respiratory care.

Responsibilities

• Stores, assembles, disassembles, and maintains respiratory equipment.
• Transports gas cylinders safely.
• Sets up oxygen cylinders and assures proper usage and safety measures are in place.
• Sets up and monitors oxygen administration.
• Familiar with oxygen delivery systems (i.e., nasal cannula, venturi mask).
• Familiar with measuring devices to include, but not limited to, pulse oximeter, Wright respirometer, and oxygen blenders.
• Responsible for the safe and effective administration of medically prescribed medication, knowing indications and contraindications.
• Knows and follows the indications, contraindications, policies, and procedures for administering therapeutic modalities to include IPPB, IS, USN, HHN, and MDI.
• Administers hand-held nebulizer treatments.
• Instructs patients in the use of incentive spirometers and metered dose inhalers.
• Performs sputum inductions.
• Performs naso-tracheal suctioning.
• Familiar with CPAP and BiPAP set-up; performs subsequent applications of CPAP and BiPAP.
• Responsible for the set-up, safety check, monitoring, and troubleshooting of mechanical ventilators in collaboration with a respiratory therapist.
• Applies and maintains ventilators, with direct observation by preceptor until competency is validated, then independently.
• Provides manual ventilation during CPR and patient transport.
• Performs blood gas analysis.
• Performs daily/weekly preventive maintenance, calibration, and quality controls of ABG and co-oximeter analyzers.
• Performs arterial punctures and hemodynamic line draws.
• Performs bedside PFT tests. May be requested to perform tests in the PFT lab following adequate training and/or orientation.
• Serves as a member of the “code team” responding to arrest situations. May be expected to perform CPR (compressions). Must be certified in CPR annually.
• Maintains accurate and legible records, documenting clinical notes in patients’ charts.
• Participates in reporting patient progress and prioritizing patient condition to the next shift.
• Ensures proper documentation in department records.
• Participates in staff meetings and attends lectures, conferences, and seminars.
• Attends all required safety training programs and can describe his/her responsibilities related to general safety, department/service safety, and specific job-related hazards.
• Follows the hospital exposure control plans for bloodborne and airborne pathogens.
• Demonstrates respect and regard for the dignity of all patients, families, visitors, and fellow employees to ensure a professional, responsible, and courteous environment.
• Promotes effective working relations and works effectively as part of a department/unit team, inter- and intradepartmentally, to facilitate the department’s/unit’s ability to meet its goals and objectives.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education (experience can be substituted for education)

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Associate’s Degree in Respiratory Care required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Working knowledge of problem solving and decision making skills.
• Working knowledge of digital literacy skills.
• Outpatient services:
• Pulmonary Function test (PFT)
• Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)
• Stress test
• Home sleep study
• IN-Lab sleep study
• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Holter monitor
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)
• Six minute walk test
• Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab:
• Phase I-Initial assessment
• Phase II-individualized plan including monitored exercises
• Phase III-self-controlled long term maintenance

Licenses and Certifications

• Kentucky Board of Respiratory Care, National Board of Respiratory Care Required
• BLS Required
• ACLS (cardiac and rehab staff) Required