Respiratory Therapist Certified

1. Initiates, conducts, modifies and monitors the effects of respiratory care treatment plans, including therapeutic, diagnostic, monitoring and rehabilitation based on healthcare provider approved protocols and written physician order.

• Determines requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions, and medication and dosages, compatible with healthcare provider orders.
• Explains treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Schedules and conducts Pulmonary Function Testing as ordered by the healthcare provider.
• Assesses and reviews patient conditions.
• Reports any adverse response to treatments to Registered Nurse, Director - Respiratory Therapy and Sleep Lab, or Health Care Provider.

 2. Administers respiratory therapy medications via hand held nebulizers and large volume aerosols.

• Administers inhaled bronchodilators, corticosteroids, leukotriene inhibitors, and antiasthmatic aerosols using both metered dose inhalers and nebulizers.
• Administers the proper amounts of oxygen to patients.
• Monitors patient’s oxygen levels in the patient’s blood and works with the healthcare provider to provide and adjust treatment accordingly.

 3. Provides Respiratory Therapy modalities within the respiratory therapy scope of practice.

• Conducts tests, such as electrocardiograms, Hellers Event Recodes 210 patches and stress testing, to evaluate patient’s cardiopulmonary function.
• Performs Percussion and bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
• Provides services to obtain and analyze blood specimens for blood gases and co-oximetry.
• Provides emergency care, including artificial respiration and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Performs endotracheal and tracheal suctioning as needed to maintain airway patency.
• Provides pulmonary function testing, including airway mechanics, flow-volume loops, diffusion capacity, peak flow measurements, and body box plethysmography data.
• Provides resuscitation and support services to all high-risk deliveries.
• Provides cardiac stress testing and pharmacologic stress testing.
• Assists in CPR as part of Trauma Team, primarily priming airway management, intubation, manual resuscitation, and arterial blood gas sampling and analysis.
• Draws ABGs if necessary.
• Conducts sleep study scheduling.
• Performs EKGs if necessary.

 4. Provides set up of equipment and management of patients requiring invasive and noninvasive ventilation. This includes BIPAP and CPAP.

• Inspects, cleans, tests and maintains respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently.
• Educates hospitalized, outpatient and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of aerosol medications and respiratory equipment.
• Places patients on ventilators.
• Demonstrates skill in use of equipment relevant to position.
• Diagnoses equipment problems.
• Informs appropriate person of problems encountered with repairs or calibration of equipment.

 5. Communicates effectively.

• Communicates and collaborates effectively with other health team members regarding patient condition, nursing plan of care, patient satisfaction needs and recommendations for meeting identified outcomes.
• Follows approved shift report format when communicating patient information.
• Identifies and recognizes abnormal symptoms/changes in patient condition, established priorities, and takes appropriate action. Appropriately reports condition changes to medical provider.

 6. Promotes and ensures patient and staff safety in all aspects of responsibilities.

• Administers medications, treatments and procedures in a timely and safe manner according to health care provider orders and nursing policy, including appropriate performance of standard precautions, using two patient identifiers, and performing patient risk assessments every shift.
• Utilizes proper body mechanics, transfer/lifting techniques to minimize fall risk to patient and injury to self.
• Implements infectious disease controls as appropriate including isolation procedures, proper use of hand washing and gloves.
• Follows proper procedures for disposal of sharps and hazardous materials.

 7. Performs other duties as assigned.