Respiratory Therapy Technician - Downtown Campus

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives. ®

University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown (located at 500 E. Market Street, Iowa City, IA) is a 194-bed hospital that became part of Iowa’s only comprehensive academic health system on Jan. 31, 2024.

GENERAL CLASS DESCRIPTION:

Under general supervision, performs respiratory care duties, including ventilator care, oxygen therapy, medicated aerosol therapy, pulmonary hygiene, blood gases, and other duties as assigned by the supervising respiratory care practitioner.

Duties to Include:

1. Consults with and assists physicians and nurses with respiratory care plans, and facilitates the implementation of physician orders.

2. Initiates, maintains, and monitors mechanical ventilation and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and non-invasive respiratory monitoring.

3. Delivers and assesses efficacy of medicated aerosol therapy and oxygen therapy.

4. Performs pulmonary hygiene, including airway care, suctioning and check percussion and drainage.

5. Obtains arterial and venous blood gases from a puncture or appropriate catheter, and analyzes sample using a blood gas analyzer.

6. Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

7. Instructs patients in the chronic care of pulmonary diseases.

8. Verifies operation, provides maintenance, and troubleshoots equipment.

9. Performs medical record and department charting of delivered patient cares and assessment.

10. Participates in the orientation of new staff members and in the instruction of respiratory care students.

11. Duties may also include the following special functions:
Pulmonary function and exercise testing;
Bronchoscopy;
Sleep studies; and
Hyperbaric medicine.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

1. Ability to recognize patient reactions related to all respiratory care procedures.

2. Ability to use calculator for determining medication dosages and ventilation parameters.

3. Ability to communicate effectively with patients and families.

4. Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors, staff members, physicians, nurses, other health care professionals, and students.

5. Ability to physically make rounds and carry out respiratory care duties in assigned area.

6. Ability to recognize problems in assigned areas and report to supervisors.

7. Ability to use computer to obtain and process patient information.

8. Knowledge of respiratory equipment and ability to troubleshoot equipment.

9. Knowledge of Universal Precautions and fire, chemical and workplace safety procedures.

10. Knowledge of medical and technical terminology.

11. Knowledge of diseases that require respiratory care interventions.

12. Knowledge of handling and administering medical gases.

Please attach a resume as part of the application process. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. For questions or additional information, please contact Emilio Villagrana at emilio-villagrana@uiowa.edu.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.