Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

Job Summary

SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, a LEVEL 1 Time Critical Diagnosis hospital in Stroke, Trauma and STEMI, is seeking a Registered Respiratory Therapist to join our team. Qualified external candidates will be considered for participation in the sign on bonus and relocation programs.

Job Responsibilities And Requirements

• Demonstrate ability to relate to coworkers in a professional and respectful manner, in order to assure and promote a culture of safety.
  • Performs all respiratory related therapeutic and diagnostic maneuvers are carried out in accordance with established policies and procedures of the department.
  • Implements and assess the function of oxygen and therapeutic gas.
    • Ensure proper set-up and implementation of therapeutic and diagnostic procedure.
    • Provide aerosolized medication.
    • Provide CPT and IPV.
    • Setup and monitor ventilators in accordance with the department and hospital policies.
  • Communicates with peers and staff to develop and improve inter- and intradepartmental services.
    • Meet with appropriate personnel to address and resolve problem issues.
  • Perform CPR.
    • Perform diagnostic procedures including but not limited to: ABG analysis, Pulse Oximetry, Nitric Oxide pulmonary hypertension studies.
  • Able to interact with physicians and nurses.
    • May work in an intensive care unit area.
  • Special duties:
    • Ability to interact with physicians and nurses.
    • Responsible to respond to critical areas (e.g. ER, OR, Code).
    • Perform routine checks on Life Support Unit.
    • Assist with bronchoscopy procedure.
    • Assist with minor cardiopulmonary invasive or surgical procedures.
    • Perform tracheotomy care.
    • Perform bedside studies including: f/vt, shunt studies, ventilator mechanics dead space, compliance, O2 content, and metabolic cart studies.
    • Perform bedside pulmonary function procedures.
    • Interpretation of complex lab data.
    • Provide input in decisions involving patient care on and off life support systems.
    • Display qualities of an independent thinker through the performance of everyday job duties.
    • Assist with the prevention of ventilator associated pneumonia as indicated by the latest evidence based literature.
    • Perform all other aspects of Respiratory Care in accordance with hospital policies and procedures.
  • Assures all time and attendance exceptions are properly recorded in the exceptions book.
    • Communicates with physicians in regard to therapies ordered and therapeutic goals.
  • Attends monthly department meetings, specialty meetings, in-services, and any other meetings as required.
    • Cleaning, disinfecting and/or sterilization of all reusable of respiratory and bronchoscopy equipment.
    • Routine mechanical maintenance of respiratory equipment.
    • Maintain neat and clean work and storage areas.
    • Maintain neat and accurate records.
    • Answer phone in a professional and timely manner.
  • Promotes a safe, clean, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients/families/employees in accordance with hospital standards.
    • Maintains clutter free environment.
    • Keeps conversations and background noise to a minimum.
    • Adheres to dress code.
    • Reports risk management concerns.
  • Completes paperwork in a timely fashion.
    • Complete charting/charging by the end of the assigned shift.
    • Review charting for errors before electronically signing.
    • Report any unresolved charting/charging discrepancies to the immediate supervisor for resolution.
    • Follow policies and procedures when administering care.
    • Report quality issues to management for review.
  • Provides age-appropriate care to: Infant, Child, Adolescent, Adult, Geriatric.
    • Demonstrates knowledge and skills of normal growth & development necessary to provide services to the age of the patient served by the department.
    • Demonstrates ability to assess and interpret age specific data to identify patient needs.
    • Utilizes communication skills necessary to interpret age specific responses to service and interaction.
    • Involves family or significant other in decision making related to services provided.
    • Demonstrates ability to provide service needed for the age groups routinely served by the department assigned.
    • Able to titrate dosages and applications to fit the needs of the various growth and development stages.
    • Recognizing that each stage requires different considerations and methods.
  • Provides specialized care to patients at high risk for injury.
    • Restraint Care: Initiates/evaluates alternatives to restraint prior to application. Applies restraints consistent with the approved procedure. Monitors and assesses patient's response throughout the restraint period at the appropriate intervals.
    • Pain Management: Assess patient for presence of pain on admission and during assessments/reassessments. Incorporates patient's cultural/spiritual beliefs regarding pain into pain management plan. Implement pain management techniques. Focus on prevention rather than treatment. Include patient and/or family members in developing a pain management plans. Consider other methods of pain control when developing plan of care: massage, repositioning, immobilization, and music therapy.
    • Abuse Assessment: Is aware of abuse recognition criteria and incorporates it into assessments. Reports signs of possible abuse/neglect to the physician & Risk Management, and recommends appropriate consultations (psychiatric, Social Work) for evaluation.

  Safety/Infection Control

  • Practices according to safety and infection control policies.
    • Practices universal precautions and disposes of hazardous wastes per established guidelines.
    • Maintains a safe, clean, comfortable and therapeutic environment for patients/families/employees in accordance with hospital standards.
    • Maintains clutter free environment.
    • Keeps conversations and background noise to a minimum.
    • Adheres to dress code.
    • Reports risk management concerns.

  Rationale For Essential Functions

  • The performance of this function is the reason the job exists.

  Disclaimer

  • Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.