Respiratory Therapist (RT)

Responsibilities

• Under general supervision and medical direction performs respiratory care related procedures.
• Exercises considerable judgment in accordance with physician’s treatment plan and within the scope of departmental policies and procedures.
• 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.
• Initiates, monitors and maintains life support systems for residents in the skilled nursing facility.
• Performs airway care and maintenance. 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.
• Performs assessment of residents' cardiopulmonary status utilizing physical assessment and history taking skills, laboratory findings, radiological studies of the chest, pulmonary function testing and professional judgment to formulate a respiratory care plan upon the order of a physician.
• Administers proper technical respiratory care procedures. Dispenses proper dosage of medication, acquires and adjusts devices to insure optimal results from therapy.
• Inspects and tests equipment, disassembles, cleans, reassembles equipment as required. Maintains adequate supply of necessary equipment.
• Assists in emergency cardio-pulmonary resuscitation as an integral part of the emergency team.
• Initiates, administers, evaluates response to, and documents all therapy modalities according to departmental procedure and ordered by a physician including: intermittent positive pressure breathing, hand held nebulizer, chest physical therapy modalities, including percussion, vibration, breathing and cough retraining exercises, deep tracheal suctioning, incentive spirometry, sputum induction.
• Recognizes resident's adverse reaction to therapy modalities and takes correct action. Documents all resident care services rendered as part of a medical record.
• 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.
• Work towards set goals to reach maximum rehabilitation potential.
• 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.