Respiratory Therapist (RT)

Responsibilities

• Performs respiratory care related procedures under general supervision and medical direction.
• Assesses resident's condition, administers prescribed therapy and aerosolized medications, observes and records resident's progress and response to therapy modalities including adverse reactions to drugs and therapy.
• Provides in-service training to residents, family members, and facility staff.
• Manages artificial ventilator status as directed by an approved protocol.
• Maintains and troubleshoots mechanical ventilators.
• Participates in cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures of bag ventilation and closed chest massage.
• Initiates, monitors and documents performance of various respiratory care modalities.
• Administers proper technical respiratory care procedures, dispenses proper dosage of medication, acquires and adjusts devices to insure optimal results from therapy.
• Observes resident's respiratory rate and pattern, pulse, breath sounds, reaction to medication, any difficulty with therapy during and after treatment.
• Chart and communicate to the resident's nurse any pertinent information.
• Inspects and tests equipment, disassembles, cleans, reassembles equipment as required.
• Accepts and transcribes verbal orders related to respiratory care procedures.
• Sets up, maintains and records log entries on all types of oxygen and respiratory supplies and equipment as required.
• Instructs residents and family members in the rationale and methodology of every respiratory procedure administered to each resident to facilitate resident cooperation, understanding and efficiency of treatment.
• Attends internal and external educational programs and reads appropriate professional journals in order to maintain and enhance technical skills and clinical competencies.
• Participates in interdisciplinary resident rounds and conferences to plan and evaluate effective resident care.
• Participates in quality assurance program data collection as assigned.
• Responsible for the effective and efficient delivery of rehab services; adherence to an established plan of care, department and patient(s)' schedule, and timely documentation of services.
• Participates in general equipment troubleshooting and specific tasks to optimize accuracy of diagnostic equipment including quality control methods and preventive maintenance and calibration.

Qualifications

• A Respiratory Therapist must have a high level of knowledge of respiratory therapy and practice required through completion of a NBRC approved and accredited program and one year of clinical practice experience under medical direction.
• Must have a current Basic Cardiac Life Support certification and current State Licensure for a Respiratory Care Practitioner.