Respiratory Care Practitioner I - Respiratory - Full Time/Nights - Req#2134704435

About the Role

Work under the management of the Director of Respiratory Therapy Services and the direction of the assigned Respiratory Therapy Supervisor. A Respiratory Therapist I must display knowledge and ability to provide respiratory care to a wide range of patients from Pediatric to Geriatric. The role involves working in the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Room, Pediatrics, and all floors of the Hospital.

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
  • Can use IPPB
  • 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 O2 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 O2 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
  • Assists with intubations
  • Performs intubations in emergencies after certification
• Provides Emergency Care:
  • Responds to all Code Blues
  • Is competent in bag and mask or bag and ET tube ventilation
  • Able to work under extreme pressure and stress
• Documents and communicates well:
  • Documents therapies and evaluations completely and accurately in the patient record, whether manually or electronically
  • Responsible for assuring all actions are reflected in the daily billing by end of shift
  • Ensures all scheduled therapies are entered into the computer accurately
  • Communicates well with other members of the healthcare 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
  • Represents Antelope Valley Hospital and the Respiratory Therapy Department positively

Requirements

• Graduate from a 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
• Minimum experience provided through Externship/internship program of accredited school for education of Respiratory Care Practitioners

Qualifications

• 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

Skills

• 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
• Ability to accurately interpret results of ABGs and CBGs and initiate corrective action
• Ability to assemble, test, and place into use all respiratory therapy equipment used for Adult and Pediatric care
• Ability to think and act quickly in high-pressure situations

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, outdoors 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