Respiratory Care Practitioner
Brown University Health · Providence, RI · 1 mo ago
Healthcare$34.2–$56.42/hrFull-time
Summary
Under the general supervision of the Manager or Lead Therapist of the Respiratory Care Department, administers respiratory care to patients, obtains and analyzes blood gas specimens, and performs sleep studies and pulmonary function tests as ordered by a physician. Performs all essential functions with consideration of the age-specific needs of the geriatric, adult, and adolescent patient. Fosters patient and family-centered care and healthcare services, in accordance with the Brown University Health and The Miriam Hospital’s mission, vision, and values, with consideration of the life span, including all developmental stages as well as cultural patterns.Responsibilities
- Administers respiratory care in accordance with physician orders or protocol.
- Accepts and enters verbal and telephonic orders from physicians into patient charts.
- Sets up and operates devices, aerosol generators, and bedside pulmonary function testing equipment.
- Maintains patient charts, entering therapy, ventilator, and monitoring information.
- Maintains quality assurance, safety, environmental, and infection control standards in accordance with established hospital and departmental policies, procedures, and objectives.
- Notifies Manager or Lead Therapist of need for equipment repairs.
- Performs arterial punctures to obtain blood samples for gas analysis.
- Analyzes and reports results.
- Calibrates, and performs preventive maintenance and quality control procedures on blood gas instrumentation.
- Performs all tests and duties in the Pulmonary Function Laboratory that relate to pulmonary function tests and sleep studies.
- Cleans, makes minor repairs, and maintains pulmonary function and sleep study equipment.
- Attends and participates in staff meetings and in-service education sessions.
- Participates in Code Blue emergencies, by providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, airway management, and ventilatory support.
- Assists in the evaluation of replacement respiratory and pulmonary function equipment.
- Assists in care and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
- Orders laboratory supplies.
Minimum Qualifications
- Associate's degree in an AMA-approved respiratory therapy program.
- Must be licensed by the State of Rhode Island as a Respiratory Care Practitioner.
- BLS - AHA Basic Life Support.
- Interpersonal skills – to instruct and calm patients.
- Analytic skills – to interpret blood gas reports, calculate results of pulmonary function tests and synthesize interrelated data from various medical disciplines.
- Leadership ability – to establish priorities, assign work to practitioners when assigned charge responsibilities, and instruct students.
- Ability to operate all respiratory therapy and diagnostic testing equipment.
Experience
- One year of experience as a respiratory therapist preferred.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
- Prolonged sitting, standing, and walking.
- Exposed to all patient elements.
- May be required to lift/turn patients and equipment.
- Repeated bending, squatting, stooping.
- Sufficient visual acuity and manual dexterity to use computer keyboard and other common office equipment.
Supervisory Responsibility
- May provide functional or technical supervision as a “charge therapist” where scope of responsibility is limited to occasional direction, guidance, and explanation (refer to Respiratory Therapy Department Policy – Charge Therapist Description – for complete list of responsibilities).