Registered Respiratory Therapist

MinUSD $31.51/Hr. MaxUSD $48.83/Hr.

Overview --------

Initiates, maintains, and discontinues basic and intensive respiratory therapy techniques and equipment in the administration of prescribed respiratory care procedures to patients with cardiopulmonary disorders.

Schedule --------

• Full Time
• Evening Shift 1:30pm-12:00am
• Rotating Weekends
• $20,000 Sign-on Bonus

Qualifications -------------

• Education: Graduate of approved Respiratory Therapy Program
• Licensure/Certification/Registry: Registered by the National Board for Respiratory Care required. Possesses a valid and active Illinois Respiratory Care Practitioner license.
• Healthcare Provider or Instructor BLS certification required within 30 days of hire.
• ACLS and NRP provider or instructor certifications required within 1 year of hire.

Responsibilities ----------------

• Prepares and tests respiratory therapy equipment for proper and safe operation and periodically checks equipment in use and on units for proper operations and routine service.
• Reports malfunctioning equipment to manager.
• Receives, documents, and executes physicians' orders relating to respiratory therapy protocol.
• Interprets and evaluates physician orders and charts that pertain to respiratory care and identifies possible contraindications to medications, treatments, and related hazard with their use.
• Measures and administers prescribed medications, such as oxygen and aerosolized medications, to patients.
• Administers procedures and therapies as needed.
• Assesses patients' conditions and responses to respiratory therapy.
• Recognizes and treats adverse reactions and emergency situations arising during treatment.
• Recognizes and responds to the signs of cardiopulmonary arrest and/or failure and life-threatening arrhythmias during EKGs.
• As necessary, assists in performing and/or initiating CPR procedures.
• Records procedures, patient responses, and medication administration in compliance with departmental documentation requirements.
• Processes routine and stat hospital EKGs and prepares them for the interpreting physician(s).
• Performs nasal and tracheal suctioning of patients and obtains tracheal secretions for cultures.
• Maintains, monitors, and provides respiratory care to patients on continuous mechanical ventilators.
• Provides respiratory care to ICU (including lung auscultation); recommends respiratory care procedures as patient condition warrants.
• Alerts the appropriate staff of any changes in patient condition.
• Monitors and cares for patients with artificial airways and endotracheal cuffs.
• Instructs patients, families, and other hospital personnel in the proper use of respiratory therapy equipment and the associated procedures and techniques used.
• Provides cardiopulmonary services in the emergency department.
• Performs patient assessment and treatment according to the emergency department/ respiratory care protocol.
• Makes recommendations for changes and improvements in hospital equipment and procedures to maintain best practice.
• Participates in departmental or multidisciplinary teams related to clinical quality, safety, education, best practice, patient satisfaction, or process improvement.

Job Description Intent --------------------

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.