Respiratory Care Intern - UPMC Presbyterian

Responsibilities

• Administer diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of Respiratory Care in the general medical/surgical units.
• Observe all necessary precautions during therapy to prevent adverse effects.
• Maintain accurate records as required by department standards.
• Communicate with all other healthcare personnel regarding patient care.
• Perform chest physiotherapy according to department standards.
• Absorb and interpret patient data to identify individual patient needs.
• Transport and change respiratory equipment on general patient units.
• Administer therapeutic gases such as oxygen as prescribed or according to departmental procedures.
• Perform flutter valve therapy according to department standards.
• Document interactions with and care given to the patient in the medical record and/or hospital information system.
• Perform arterial punctures (radial and brachial arteries only) and analyze samples maintaining asepsis and quality as per department standards.
• Administer IPPB therapy as prescribed or according to departmental procedures.
• Perform simple bedside pulmonary function testing and calculation.
• Transport and change respiratory equipment on the general patient units throughout the hospital and maintain associated records in an organized and legible manner.
• Clean, disinfect and/or sterilize all respiratory equipment.
• Complete all mandatory and hospital competencies.
• Exhibit and practice service excellence by actively seeking, listening and responding to the needs of patients, their family, physicians, staff and others.
• Utilize Customer Relations principles.
• Prepare and administer humidification and nebulization therapy under controlled temperature and saturation levels.
• Evaluate therapy objectives to determine the patient's needs.
• Provide equipment for therapy mentioned above and perform minor repairs, maintenance and calibration as per department standards.
• Perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation to include the establishment of an airway, ventilatory support and external cardiac massage.
• Perform incentive spirometry according to department standards.
• Perform PEP therapy according to department standards.
• Prepare and administer aerosolized drugs and drug mixtures as prescribed.
• Perform resting, titration, exercise and nocturnal oximetry studies.
• Replace oxygen and other compressed gas cylinders used for the respiratory care of patients and monitor and change the compressed gas cylinder banks when indicated.
• Disassemble and prepare respiratory equipment for cleaning, disinfection and/or sterilization.
• Attend and participate in department meetings, conferences and inservices as able.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a CoARC approved school of Respiratory Care.
• Completed one semester of clinical rotations at a CoARC approved school of Respiratory Care.
• Certified in CPR. Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).