Critical Care Respiratory Therapist

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Responsible for the initiation of respiratory therapy and diagnostic procedures, especially in difficult and/or unusual situations. Performs highly complex and non-traditional procedures and assists the physician with same. Responsible for providing care to infant, pediatric, adult and geriatric patients and for providing education to families and patients regarding respiratory care modalities.

PRINCIPAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. *Commits to the mission, vision, beliefs and consistently demonstrates our core values.

2. *Initiates assessment and reassessment based on pulmonary conditions including moderate sedation.

3. *Provides basic and advanced ventilator management and assessment to include all modes and settings on all models, including High Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation (HFOV).

4. *Develops plan for the delivery of Respiratory Care as directed by physician(s) or protocols per patient assessment.

5. *Advises physicians regarding therapy options as patient condition warrants.

6. *Monitors and administers respiratory care modalities to patients; identifies contra-indications and patient response to therapy; records therapy and outcomes in the patient’s medical record.

7. *Assists and supervises in emergency resuscitation to include intubations, RSI and airway management.

8. *Performs airway management to include trach care, endotracheal and trach tube changes and other trach procedures.

9. *Supervises airway maintenance during intra-facility patient transport.

10. *Initiates hemodynamic monitoring to include insertion of arterial line catheters and associated ongoing maintenance of lines/sites.

11. *Takes the charge pager to accept calls and pages incoming to the department. Acts as a clinical resource for others assigned to the shift.

12. *Performs as an active member of the Rapid Response Team.

13. Gathers equipment and supplies to assist physicians with fiberoptic pulmonary procedures, to include therapeutic bronchoscopy.

14. Performs Nitric Oxide, Flolan and Heliox therapies including Operating Room and Cath labs.

15. Provides performance feedback to the Assistant Manager, Clinical Respiratory Educator and Respiratory Care Manager when assisting with orientees or students.

16. Assigns and ensures staffing and workload assignments meet the established requirements for maximum and minimum productivity levels.

17. Follows current infection control guidelines for equipment cleaning and patient care.

18. Performs and downloads ECG’s.

19. *Performs respiratory care discharge planning.

20. Provides disease/process-specific patient/family education.

21. Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest trends in field of expertise.

22. Participates in meetings, committees and department projects as assigned.

23. Performs other related projects and duties as assigned.

(Essential Job functions are marked with an asterisk “*”. Refer to the Job Description Guide for the definition of essential and non-essential job functions.) Attach Addendum for positions with slightly different roles or work-specific differences as needed.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Knowledge of basic and advanced respiratory equipment.

2. Knowledge of arterial punctures and ABG analysis.

3. Knowledge of computer hardware equipment and software application relevant to work functions.

4. Skill in the respiratory care of neonate, infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients.

5. Ability to exercise initiative and judgment in administering therapy and/or other techniques and skills.

6. Ability to monitor and interpret cardiac dysrhythmias.

7. Ability to establish and maintain arterial catheters and appropriate monitoring equipment.

8. Ability to establish and maintain monitoring equipment for hemodynamic monitoring.

9. Ability to oversee the work of co-workers and students, provide orientation and appropriate instruction in a positive manner.

10. Ability to provide airway management in emergent and non-emergent situations.

11. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment related to changing patient needs including working with patients with acute, chronic and complex disease processes and those who are dying.

12. Ability to establish and maintain effective professional working relationships with all levels of personnel, medical staff, volunteer and ancillary departments including diverse patient populations.

13. Ability to prioritize work demands and work with minimal supervision.

14. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.

15. Ability to maintain confidentiality relevant to sensitive information.

16. Ability to maintain regular and punctual attendance.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Graduate of an AMA program of Respiratory Care required. Must be licensed to practice respiratory care (LRCP) in the state of Nebraska. Registration by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as a Registered Respiratory

Therapist (RRT) required. Must maintain an active RRT credential through the NBRC. Active Adult Critical Care Specialist (RRT-ACCS) and/or Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialty (RRT-NPS) certification required. Minimum of two (2) years experience as a Respiratory Therapist is required.

OTHER CREDENTIALS / CERTIFICATIONS:

Basic Life Support (CPR) certification required. Bryan Health recognizes American Heart Association (for healthcare professionals), American Red Cross (for healthcare professionals) and the Military Training Network.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications required. Neonatal/Pediatric Specialty (NPS) or Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS) certification required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

(Physical Requirements are based on federal criteria and assigned by Human Resources upon review of the Principal Job Functions.)

(DOT) – Characterized as medium work requiring exertion of 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or a greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects