Respiratory Therapist

A caregiver in this position works from 6:30AM - 7:00PM, with rotating weekend and holiday requirements.

A caregiver who excels in this role will:  

• Provide care to patients considering assessment and interview techniques identifying psychosocial, physical, and educational needs. 
• Maintain continuous ventilation of patients on mechanical ventilators (invasive and noninvasive). 
• Monitor patient's ventilatory status with spirometers, pressure gauges and chest auscultation, draw and analyze arterial blood gases and measure respiratory exchange. 
• Wean patients from continuous ventilation utilizing established procedures. 
• Perform cardiopulmonary assessment to evaluate patient's respiratory status. 
• Analyze, record, and report results such as arterial blood gases, oxygenation studies, pulmonary function tests, hemodynamic monitoring parameters, etc. 
• Recommend modification to therapy or implementation of treatments. 
• Maintain airway care by performing and instructing proper tracheal instillations, tracheal aspiration, and nasotracheal aspiration. 
• Perform invasive procedures such as arterial puncture, tracheostomy tube changes as ordered by the physician. 
• Assist the physician in bedside and/or scheduled Bronchoscopy procedures. 
• Perform bedside Spirometry procedures and/or more complete Pulmonary Function studies with appropriate training (clinic staff). 
• Perform basic respiratory therapies such as medicated aerosols, oxygen therapy, nitric oxide administration, humidity/aerosol, bronchopulmonary hygiene, hyperinflation techniques, pulse oximetry while verifying physician order and utilizing appropriate treatment guidelines. 
• Observe and respond to adverse patient reactions to therapy or otherwise and initiates/assists in Rapid Response and Code Blue (CPR) situations. 
• Act as a resource for the pulmonologist for patient education and troubleshooting of therapeutic issues and training Residents (RRT credentialed therapists unless approved otherwise by the Departmental Director). 

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• Graduation from an accredited Respiratory Care program 

• Associate's degree

• State of Florida Department of Health License Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

• RRT credentialing through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)

• Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification through the American Heart Association (AHA)

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• One year of clinical experience

• Bachelor's degree

Our caregivers continue to create the best outcomes for our patients across each of our facilities. Click the link and see how we’re dedicated to providing what matters most to you: https://jobs.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-2/

Physical Requirements:

• Good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination

• Normal hearing and vision or corrected to normal range

• Sitting, standing and walking for extensive periods of time

• Proficiency in treatment of respiratory disorders for inpatient and outpatients with various media, (i.e., oxygen, therapeutic gases, inhaled medications and positive pressure devices)

• The ability to retrieve, communicate or otherwise present information in a written, auditory or visual fashion

• Moderate to heavy lifting and positioning of patients

• Moderate pushing and pulling of equipment

• Moderate risk of exposure to blood or air-borne pathogens

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follow standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.