Reg Respiratory Therapist

General Purpose of Job

The staff respiratory therapist (RRT) is a professional that provides respiratory therapy services to patients within the hospital and complies within the established standards of practice, policies and clinical guidelines reflective of evidence-based best practice. The respiratory therapist plans and delivers effective patient care within their scope of practice and within the framework of Driscoll Health System’s vision of excellence and integrated care delivery.

Essential functions and behavioral expectations

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Assembles respiratory therapy equipment prior to patient use.
• Setup, troubleshoot, and evaluate effectiveness of respiratory support systems in use.
• Setup and monitor respiratory therapy equipment and administer therapy to include but not limited to: aerosol, oxygen, chest percussion, positive pressure breathing, lung lavage, breathing exercises, transcutaneous oxygen/carbon dioxide monitors, end tidal carbon dioxide monitors, pulse oximeters, nitric oxide, nitrogen, heliox therapy equipment and mechanical ventilators.
• Responds to emergency situations to assist or manage respiratory support measures and assist with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and patient transports.
• Maintains patient pulmonary condition and progress, and reports any abnormal findings to shift supervisor and/or nurse.
• Suggest therapeutic modification of care plan to prescribing physician.
• Affixes assistance with training of new employees.
• Affixes assistance with department’s continued quality improvement plan.
• Affixes assistance with equipment cleaning / disinfection measures during peak workloads.
• Transport patients within or out of hospital.
• Volunteer for hospital / community service.
• Run and process arterial, capillary and venous blood gases and report any critical values as specified by lab’s standards.
• Perform bedside intubations under the supervision of a practitioner.
• Attend high-risk deliveries and assist practitioner in evaluating and treating infant as necessary and/or verbally ordered.

Licenses, Education and/or Experience

Associate in Applied Science (AAS) or graduate from an accredited Respiratory Therapy program. License to practice Respiratory Care issued by the Texas Medical Board. Certificates, Registrations: Registered Respiratory Therapist credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care. One-year general care experience and/or one-year pediatric care experience preferred. Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Provider (before hire), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) (within 1 year of hire), Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) (within 1 year of hire), Perinatal/Pediatric Specialist (NPS) – Preferred (must attempt within 3 years of hire) and maintained once obtained.