Respiratory Therapist

Application deadline: Friday, 09/1

Schedule

Nights 18:00-6:30AM, PRN, as needed

Pay

• RRT Salary Range: $31.90/ Hour - $45.94/ Hour + Shift Differentials
• CRT Salary Range: $30.38/ Hour - $40.10/ Hour + Shift Differentials

About the role

Responsible for the implementation and coordination of respiratory care based on the policies and procedures of the Respiratory Care Department. This position will also perform support activities such as setting up and operating various types of respiratory care equipment to be utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease and/or illness. This position is responsible for providing efficient, quality-oriented patient care activities and interdisciplinary team activities to ensure individualized, patient-centered health care for all patient populations admitted.

Requirements

• Active Colorado Respiratory Care Licensure
• Current BLS for the Healthcare Provider and ACLS through the American Heart Association
• Successful completion of an accredited Respiratory Therapy Program
• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
• Two years recent clinical experience preferred
• Sleep Disorder Specialist (SDS) and vascular access experience preferred

Skills & Abilities

• Sets appropriate priorities for acute respiratory medical-surgery and rehab patient's care needs
• Successfully and effectively communicates with a variety of personnel
• Organizes work while responding to changing demands
• Understands and follows written and verbal instructions
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills
• Communicates positively, calmly, and clearly in a timely manner; seeks and accepts direction
• Meets all physical requirements of the job
• Recognizes changes in patient condition, environment, and social atmosphere that affect the patient
• Able to triage and communicate information to the team in a timely and thorough manner
• Demonstrates respect and sensitivity toward individuals with disability
• Ability to work collaboratively with other departments and physicians
• Able to respond to crises and emergency situations appropriately

Responsibilities

• Treat patients/families with dignity and respect and incorporates them as members of their care team
• Act to uphold rights and responsibilities of patients/families
• Maintain privacy/confidentiality for patient and staff information
• Observe patients when changes occur; report changes to the physician, nurse, therapist/s, or Director as appropriate
• Work in collaboration with other respiratory therapists, RNs, physicians, and other team members to collect data for the patient care plan
• Relay all pertinent information to the physician, RN, respiratory team, or other team members as it affects the patient's care plan
• Recognize changes in the patient condition that require immediate action
• Monitor and document patient response to therapy
• Assess changes in ventilation status and respond appropriately to changing patient demands
• Provide goal-oriented therapy under guidance of Respiratory Care Protocols
• Administer respiratory care, medications, and life support, by prescription, to patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of cardiopulmonary system under supervision of physician and Director of Respiratory Care
• Ensure safety of mechanical ventilation (both invasive and non-invasive) with assessment of prescribed settings, patient information/condition, and alarm appropriateness
• Measure arterial blood gases, review patient information to assess patient condition and determine requirements for treatment
• Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, gas administration, aerosol generators, inhalants, and other respiratory therapy devices
• Responsible for the implementation and coordination of respiratory care procedures based on the policies and procedures of the Respiratory Care Department
• Provide non-invasive monitoring of ventilation to assess patient condition and determine requirements for treatment
• Available to all patient requirements throughout shift, unless patient assignment has been delegated to another respiratory therapist for cross coverage
• Provide all modalities of airway clearance therapy (deep suctioning, nasal-tracheal suctioning, assisted cough, chest vibration, deep breath and cough, huff cough, CPT, etc.)
• Provide direct invasive and non-invasive respiratory care to adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients with SCI and TBI
• Administer medical gases by prescription to patients with abnormalities of cardiopulmonary system
• Monitor oxygen use, perform routine pulse oximetry checks
• Completely and accurately assess patients on admission, per protocol, or on the order of a physician
• Perform EKG testing
• Respond to CODE Blue and all emergency calls and administer CPR; intubate if a physician is not available; maintain active ACLS credential
• Transport patients to and from diagnostic testing procedures at Swedish Medical Center and other testing centers as required
• Assist with patient outings as assigned
• Assist physicians with bronchoscopy procedures
• Perform bedside spirometry testing
• Work in collaboration with the RN and other team members to collect elements of the patient care plan and aid in the gathering and distribution of information
• Actively educate patients and family members in disease process, treatment modalities, medications, etc. on an ongoing basis and as assigned
• Provide respiratory education/precept new staff hires, new respiratory care staff, nursing staff, and respiratory/nursing students

Benefits

• Medical insurance (self-funded plan administered by Allegiance Benefit Plans with a CIGNA network of providers offering two different comprehensive plans)
• Dental insurance through Delta Dental
• Vision insurance through EyeMed
• Health Care and Dependent Care Spending Accounts
• Short Term and Long Term Disability Insurance plans (fully employer-paid for benefit-eligible employees)
• Generous time-off benefits
• 403b Retirement Plan with a generous matching contribution through Empower Retirement (eligibility upon hire)
• Tuition Assistance
• Employee Assistance Programs and Employee Emergency Assistance Fund