Respiratory Care Practitioner III

About the role

This position involves assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating respiratory therapy care and life support for patients in various areas of the medical center, including neonatal intensive care units. The role requires adherence to Kaiser Permanente’s policies and procedures, principles of responsibilities, and applicable state, federal, and local laws.

Responsibilities

• Upholds Kaiser Permanente’s Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities, and applicable state, federal, and local laws.
• Professional Conduct: Applies philosophy and demonstrates knowledge of the Patient Bill of Rights. Treats members, coworkers, and individual employees with respect and dignity. Maintains the privacy and confidentiality of both members and employees with regard to medical records and communication regarding disease, conditions, and status.
• Greet members promptly and courteously, addressing adult members by their proper title (i.e., Mr., Mrs., Ms.) and last name except when otherwise mutually agreed upon by the provider and patient.
• Takes and documents phone calls, giving immediate attention to emergency or urgent messages and documenting the following information: name of patient, phone number, reason for the call, date and time of the call, and name of the person taking the call.
• Provides direct/indirect care and service to patient/member groups; neonatal, pediatric, and adult ages and classifications.
• Participates in patient care rounds as an active member of the critical care team.
• Determines and documents the admitting diagnosis and pulmonary pathophysiology for assigned patients, and performs patient assessment and provides appropriate therapy.
• Evaluates patients' response to all respiratory care provided and appropriately documents required information as outlined in department policies and procedures.
• Initiates new routine orders within time specified in department policies and procedures.
• Maintains airway cuff pressures and recommends changes in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to physicians, nursing, and/or co-workers.
• Performs respiratory diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, verbalizing mechanisms of action, dosage, contraindications, and adverse reactions for all medications upon request.
• Verifies and stores unused doses of medications in the department medication cabinet or refrigerator as indicated by the medication instructions.
• Performs ventilatory support during patient inter-intra hospital transfers.
• Performs procedures for disinfecting and sterilization, adhering to infection control policies and procedures.
• Washes hands before and after physical contact with the patient and after using the restroom as described in handwashing procedure.
• Adheres to isolation procedures as indicated and practices Universal Precautions at all times.
• Performs and evaluates blood gas analysis to include quality control procedures adhering to laboratory policies and procedures.
• Assures that quality control of equipment is performed and at acceptable levels.
• Obtains arterial blood samples, ensures that blood samples and requisition slips have required information, handles and disposes of blood samples per policy and procedure, and performs blood gas analysis.
• Documents and reports critical blood gas values to nurse/physician.
• Performs analyzer maintenance and quality controls as qualified, and ensures cleanliness of the blood gas laboratory.
• Performs cardiopulmonary and neonatal resuscitation (CPR/NR) and responds to emergencies in all areas.
• Auscultates lungs to assure proper endotracheal tube placement, identifies primary affected lobes and positions patient to optimize treatment while ensuring safety, and identifies contraindications in regards to chest physiotherapy and appropriately informs and provides recommendations to the physician.
• Performs oral, nasal, and tracheal suctioning to ensure airway patency.
• Collaborates with the physician and nursing in regards to the appropriate frequency of suctioning for assigned patients.
• Provides reasonable solutions upon the identification of problems and participates in-group action problem solving processes.
• Complies with patient safety practices/policies; takes appropriate safety measures considering patients age and developmental status.
• Charting and Documentation: Provides timely, accurate, legible record keeping and data entries per departmental policy and procedure. Enters required information into the Respiratory Cares department system for recording statistical data related to procedures performed, workload and staffing. Assumes responsibility for all required Respiratory Care documentation on all assigned patients.
• Equipment and Supplies: Effectively utilizes equipment and supplies. Demonstrates the ability to setup, operate, troubleshoot, and perform corrective action based upon department policies and procedures and manufacturers recommendations. Utilizes appropriate procedures in reporting malfunctioning or suspect equipment and supplies. Determines whether equipment malfunction is life threatening versus non-life threatening and responds appropriately. Assumes responsibility and ensures patient safety during any equipment failure. Maintains inventory level of respiratory care equipment and supplies as assigned.
• Productivity and Time Management: Maintains department productivity standards. Reports inability to complete procedures seeks assistance if patient care is compromised.
• Job and Personal Maturity: Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability by accepting new ideas and supporting changes in the department and hospital/clinic. Functions independently with minimum direction.
• Communication: Utilizes effective listening, verbal, nonverbal and writing skills formally and informally. Utilizes the chain-of-command in the event of a difficult situation or decision. Immediately reports critical values to appropriate team members. Interacts professionally when discussing patient care plans/recommendations with health care team members.
• Education and Staff Development: Participates in training and orientation of new employees as required. Participates in and provides patient education, within the department and medical enter. Attends department continuing education, meetings as required.
• RCP II (Includes all skills required of RCP I, RCP II): Functions at Independent Level in Adult Critical Care areas. Demonstrates ability to assess for implementation or discontinuance of mechanical ventilation. Demonstrates ability to implement all modalities of ventilation approved for use in the medical center. Demonstrates ability to adjust ventilator parameters in response to changes in acid-base balance and oxygenation. Demonstrates ability to effectively wean from mechanical ventilator per medical center protocols. Demonstrates ability to implement all respiratory modalities of care specific to the Adult critical care.
• RCP III (Includes all skills required of RCP I, RCP II, and RCP III): Functions at Independent Level in Neonatal Critical Care areas. Demonstrates ability to assess for implementation or discontinuance of mechanical ventilation. Demonstrates ability to implement all modalities of ventilation approved for use in the medical center. Demonstrates ability to adjust ventilator parameters in response to changes in acid-base balance and oxygenation per protocol or Doctors order. Demonstrates ability to effectively wean from mechanical ventilation per medical center protocols. Demonstrates ability to implement all respiratory modalities of care specific to Neonatal critical care in this medical center. Documents therapy and intervention in medical record per medical center policy and procedure.
• Education and Experience: Graduate of an approved 2-year Respiratory Care program accredited by the Respiratory Care Accrediting Board (RCAB) or Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC). One (1) year of recent NICU experience within the past 12 months. One (1) year of recent NICU experience within the past 12 months. Two (2) years recent experience in the Neonatal intensive Care Unit in the past 24 months. Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) or Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) is required for any Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) working in the Pulmonary Function Laboratory (PFT).

  Qualifications

  • One (1) year of recent NICU experience within the past 12 months.
  • Graduate of an approved 2-year Respiratory Care program accredited by the Respiratory Care Accrediting Board (RCAB) or Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
  • Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) or Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) is required for any Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) working in the Pulmonary Function Laboratory (PFT).
  • Functions at independent level in all areas of Medical/Surgical, Adult and Pediatric Intensive Care areas and Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU).
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification (PALS), Sugar & Safe Care-Temperature-Airway-Blood Pressure- Lab Work-Emotional Support. (S.T.A.B.L.E. Certification).

  Skills

  • Knowledge of respiratory care practices and procedures.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare team members.
  • Proficiency in operating respiratory care equipment.
  • Ability to manage time and prioritize tasks effectively.
  • Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.

  Benefits

  N/A

  Pay

  $55.41 - $61.08 / hour

  Schedule

  On-call position, working days and hours may vary within the specified shift. Position is a shared employee status and will be required to work at both Respiratory depts at OCA and OCI, based on department operational needs. Back up 8 hour shift with be M,T,W,Th,F,Sa,Su and start time 10:30pm - 07:00am. Also, scheduled to work every other weekend (Sa,Su).