Respiratory Care Practitioner I - Respiratory - Full Time/Nights - Req# 2117973687

Duties and Responsibilities

Maintains high standards of customer service

• Provides routine bronchodilator therapy and patient assessment
• Uses Hand Held Nebulizer
• Uses Metered Dose Inhaler
• Competent with Continuous Nebulization
• Able to identify different breath sounds, their meaning and recognize changes
• Recognizes accessory muscle use
• Uses Peak Flow Meter to assess efficacy of treatments
• Performs Bedside Pulmonary Function Tests
• Provides oxygen therapy
• Expert in standard 02 delivery devices, their uses and liter flow requirements
• Able to use and set up both heated and cool aerosol therapy
• Able to use and set up High-Flow Nasal cannula
• Understands danger of 02 misuse, especially for CO2 retainers
• Provides Critical Care
• Manages Ventilators on intubated patients
• Obtains Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) or Capillary Blood Gases (CBGs) and recommends a course of action based on their results
• Places and manages non-invasive ventilation on patients
• Aids in intubations
• Performs intubations in emergencies after certification
• Provides Emergency Care
• Responds to all Code Blues
• Competent in bag and mask or bag and ET tube ventilation
• Able to work under extreme pressure and stress
• Documents and communicates well
• Therapist must document therapies and evaluations completely and accurately in the patient record whether manually or electronically
• Therapist must be responsible for assuring all actions are reflected in the daily billing by end of shift
• Therapist must ensure all scheduled therapies are entered into the computer accurately
• Must be able to communicate well with other members of the health care team, including doctors, nurses and other therapists

Non-Essential Duties

• Assists the Director of Respiratory Services and Supervisors or designee in completing alternate job duties as instructed.
• Maintains a professional behavior
• Always represents Antelope Valley Hospital and the Respiratory Therapy Department in a positive

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge
• Thorough knowledge of Pulmonary Disease states, their signs, symptoms and treatments
• Knowledge of and ability to use a wide variety of ventilation strategies to treat patients
• Knowledge of current practice in the care of Geriatrics, and Pediatrics
• Knowledge of medications used in Respiratory Therapy, their methods of administration, dosages, diseases treated, effects and adverse effects
• Knowledge of pulmonary anatomy in adults and the effects of disease on the pulmonary anatomy
• Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests and behaviors of age specific groups
• Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests, and behaviors of patients requiring critical or specialized care
• Skill at drawing ABGs and CBGs
• Demonstrated good communication skills
• Good organizational skills

Education and Experience

• Education
• Graduate from school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school's location
• High School diploma or GED equivalent
• Experience
• Minimum experience provided through Externship/internship program of accredited school for education of Respiratory Care Practitioners

Licenses and Certifications

• Must be licensed with the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Credentialed with the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist. (RRT)
• If not already registered, staff will have five (5) years to obtain this credential
• Current BCLS Certification
• Current PALS Certification

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Frequently moving large ventilators on wheels, which weigh up to 150 pounds, throughout the hospital
• Moving tents and cylinders throughout the hospital
• Working in small or crowded rooms
• Working in all areas of the hospital
• Walking, stairs, out of doors in all weather conditions
• Frequently Lifting/Carrying 25-50 pounds and pushing/pulling 36-50 pounds throughout shift
• Able to use Personal Protection Equipment
• Potential exposure to patient blood or body fluids