What are the responsibilities and job description for the Respiratory Care Practitioner I - Respiratory - Full Time/Nights - Req# 2047090777 position at Antelope Valley Medical Center?
Job Objective:
Work under the management of the Director of Respiratory Therapy Services and the direction of the assigned Respiratory Therapy Supervisor. A Respiratory Therapist I must display knowledge and ability to provide respiratory care to a wide range of patients from Pediatric to Geriatric. A Respiratory Therapist I is able to work in the Intensive Care Unit or the Emergency room as well as Pediatrics and on all floors of the Hospital.
Duties and Responsibilities:
A. Maintains high standards of customer service
B. Provides routine bronchodilator therapy and patient assessment:
- Uses Hand Held Nebulizer
- Uses Metered Dose Inhaler
- Competent with Continuous Nebulization
- Can use IPPB
- Able to identify different breath sounds, their meaning and recognize changes
- Recognizes accessory muscle use
- Uses Peak Flow Meter to assess efficacy of treatments
- Performs Bedside Pulmonary Function Tests
C. Provides oxygen therapy:
- Expert in standard 02 delivery devices, their uses and liter flow requirements
- Able to use and set up both heated and cool aerosol therapy
- Able to use and set up High-Flow Nasal cannula
- Understands danger of 02 misuse, especially for CO2 retainers
D. Provides Critical Care:
- Manages Ventilators on intubated patients
- Obtains Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) or Capillary Blood Gases (CBGs) and recommends a course of action based on their results
- Places and manages non-invasive ventilation on patients
- Assists with intubations
- Performs intubations in emergencies after certification
E. Provides Emergency Care.
- Responds to all Code Blues
- Is competent in bag and mask or bag and ET tube ventilation
- Able to work under extreme pressure and stress
F. Documents and communicates well
- Therapist must document therapies and evaluations completely and accurately in the patient record whether manually or electronically
- Therapist must be responsible for assuring all actions are reflected in the daily billing by end of shift
- Therapist must ensure all scheduled therapies are entered into the computer accurately
- Must be able to communicate well with other members of the health care team, including doctors, nurses and other therapists
Non-Essential Duties:
- Assists the Director of Respiratory Services and Supervisors or designee in completing alternate job duties as instructed.
- Maintains a professional behavior
- Always represents Antelope Valley Hospital and the Respiratory Therapy Department in a positive
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge
- Thorough knowledge of Pulmonary Disease states, their signs, symptoms and treatments
- Knowledge of and ability to use a wide variety of ventilation strategies to treat patients
- Knowledge of current practice in the care of Geriatrics, and Pediatrics
- Knowledge of medications used in Respiratory Therapy, their methods of administration, dosages, diseases treated, effects and adverse effects
- Knowledge of pulmonary anatomy in adults and the effects of disease on the pulmonary anatomy
- Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests and behaviors of age specific groups.
- Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests, and behaviors of patients requiring critical or specialized care.
Skills
- Skill at drawing ABGs and CBGs
- Demonstrated good communication skills.
- Good organizational skills.
Abilities
- Ability to accurately interpret results of ABGs and CBGs and initiate corrective action
- Ability to assemble, test, and place into use all respiratory therapy equipment used at AVH for Adult and Pediatric care
- Ability to think and act quickly in high-pressure situations
Education and Experience:
Education
- Graduate from school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school's location.
- High School diploma or GED equivalent
Experience
- Minimum experience provided through Externship/internship program of accredited school for education of Respiratory Care Practitioners.
Required Licensure and/or Certifications:
- Must be licensed with the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
- Credentialed with the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. (RRT) If not already registered, staff will have five (5) years to obtain this credential.
- Current BCLS Certification
- Current PALS Certification
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- Frequently moving large ventilators on wheels, which weigh up to 150 pounds, throughout the hospital.
- Moving tents and cylinders throughout the hospital.
- Working in small or crowded rooms.
- Working in all areas of the hospital.
- Walking, stairs, out of doors in all weather conditions.
- Frequently Lifting/Carrying 25-50 pounds and pushing/pulling 36-50 pounds throughout shift.
- Able to use Personal Protection Equipment
- Potential exposure to patient blood or body fluids
A detailed description of the physical requirements of this job is maintained in the Employee Health Department.
Education and Experience:
Education
- Graduate from school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school's location.
- High School diploma or GED equivalent
Experience
- Minimum experience provided through Externship/internship program of accredited school for education of Respiratory Care Practitioners.
Required Licensure and/or Certifications:
- Must be licensed with the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
- Credentialed with the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. (RRT) If not already registered, staff will have five (5) years to obtain this credential.
- Current BCLS Certification
- Current PALS Certification
