About the role
Overview
The Respiratory Therapist provides services to adult and pediatric patients. They provide general respiratory therapy, adult and pediatric critical care, and limited diagnostics. This is a 13-week, night shift, 84-hour contract position.
Responsibilities
- Performs and accurately records technical procedures safely, effectively, efficiently, and within scope of policy
- Reviews, collects, and evaluates relevant clinical data, and formulates an appropriate care plan based on patient assessment.
- Performs both basic and advanced emergency, therapeutic, and diagnostic procedures for neonatal, infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients.
- Provides effective education to patients and co-workers as appropriate.
- Assembles, checks, and corrects malfunctions and performs quality controls on respiratory care equipment.
- Actively participates in departmental quality assurance and facility-wide organizational performance improvement activities.
- Gives rationale for actions, decisions, and clinical care, based on scientific principles, clinical practice guidelines, or successful experience
Patient care procedures include
Oxygen/Aerosol Therapy
Bronchial Hygiene
Postural Drainage and Percussion
Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
Acapella
Aerosolized Medications
Hand Held Nebulizer
Metered Dose Inhaler
Dry Powder Inhaler
Adult/Pediatric/Neonatal Critical Care
CPAP/BiPAP
E-ZPAP
Mechanical ventilation including transport
Blood collection and analysis
Emergency tracheostomy tube replacement
Bedside Pulmonary Function Testing
ECG
DCH Standards
- Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
- Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
- Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
- Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
- Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
- All other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Current Alabama Respiratory Care licensure.
- Holds active credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) (removed statement within 1 year after graduation)
- Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy, Bachelor’s degree preferred, or holds a certificate in Respiratory Therapy
- Must have at least two (2) years of previous direct-care RT experience in a hospital setting
BCLS provider
- PALS preferred for staff working in the Emergency Department.
- ACLS required.
- NRP required if NICU trained
- Membership in appropriate professional organization (i.e. American Association for Respiratory Care, Alabama Society for Respiratory Care) is strongly encouraged
- Responsible for obtaining needed continuing education for licensure
- Must be able to read, write legibly, speak and comprehend English.
WORKING CONDITIONS
WORK CONTEXT
Environmental Conditions: Includes exposure to human fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions. Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.
Psychological Conditions: Includes demonstrating leadership skills. Delegating to team members, addressing conflict, communicating with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes/results.
PHYSICAL FACTORS
- Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.
- Ability to lift and carry up to a maximum of 50 pounds with frequent lifting and/or carrying objects weighing up to 10 pounds.
- Ability to reach reasonable distances in any direction.
- Ability to run in emergency situations.
- Must be able to move fingers in a coordinated manner.
- Must have ability to feel and perceive temperatures, texture, shape and size with fingertips.
- Physical presence onsite is essential.
- Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
- Able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.