Respiratory Therapist | PRN

Position Highlights

Schedule: Rotating 12 hour shifts; days/evenings/nights. PRN - work as needed.

What You Will Do

• Evaluates patients in order to receive, review, interpret, and administer the prescribing orders regarding respiratory and cardiopulmonary treatments and tests.
• Accurately documents patient assessment, interventions, and progress in the electronic medical record, as well as submits charges in an accurate and timely manner.
• Evaluates the effectiveness of the plan of care.
• Initiates and implements respiratory care plans and interventions to meet the needs of the patient in conjunction with the entire healthcare team to ensure full understanding and cooperation to improve patient outcomes.
• Performs administration, set-up, titration, maintenance, evaluations and documentation of supplemental oxygen, aerosol therapy, airway clearance techniques, mechanical invasive or non-invasive ventilator management, and preparation and administration of respiratory medications.
• Ensures airway patency including various means of suctioning (tracheal, nasal, and oral).
• Attends and assists to patients in respiratory or cardiac arrest by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency airway care.
• Performs arterial and capillary punctures, runs venous, arterial and capillary blood gas samples, electrolytes and lactic acid tests and maintains and operates the Blood Gas analyzer.
• May assist in Pulmonary Rehab by providing appropriate exercises and education to participants.
• May assist in outpatient clinic as needed and may schedule sleep studies and obtains prior authorizations for the sleep studies when applicable.
• Performs diagnostic testing through pulmonary function, stress exercise, electrocardiograms, electroencephalograms, oximetry, holter and cardiac event monitoring.
• Instructs clinical staff on the use of respiratory therapy equipment and the use of the EKG equipment.
• Affords assistance with implementing and updating policies and procedures, maintenance of quality assurance reports and records, and maintenance of equipment and ordering of supplies.

Essential Qualifications

• The individual must be able to work the hours specified.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job function satisfactorily including having visual acuity adequate to perform position duties and the ability to communicate effectively with others, hear, understand and distinguish speech and other sounds.

Expectations and Standards

• Commitment to the daily application of Avera’s mission, vision, core values, and social principles to serve patients, their families, and our community.
• Promote Avera’s values of compassion, hospitality, and stewardship.
• Uphold Avera’s standards of Communication, Attitude, Responsiveness, and Engagement (CARE) with enthusiasm and sincerity.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Work effectively in a team environment, coordinating work flow with other team members and ensuring a productive and efficient environment.
• Comply with safety principles, laws, regulations, and standards associated with, but not limited to, CMS, The Joint Commission, DHHS, and OSHA if applicable.