Respiratory Therapist, Casual

Summary

We are currently seeking a Respiratory Therapist to join our Respiratory Care Team. This position is casual, no benefits, day/night rotating shift and every 3rd weekend, 12-hour shifts.

Purpose of this position: The licensed Respiratory Therapist (RT) practices in collaboration with the healthcare team to provide respiratory care to patients. RTs maintain population specific competence to care for the neonate through geriatric patient. The RT demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide individualized care based on the physical, cultural, educational, and age-specific needs of the patient. The RT complies with all rules and standards of regulatory and accrediting bodies.

Responsibilities

Responds to cardiopulmonary emergencies and assists in establishing/maintaining a patent airway including care for the potential effects of an artificial airway

• Provides manual ventilation and airway management during transports under the direction of a physician
• Provides mechanical ventilatory support and monitoring in the intensive care units
• Initiates, monitors and makes recommendations regarding respiratory care procedures
• Records actions and observations on patient care delivery in the EHR
• Operates and maintains all respiratory care equipment
• Performs diagnostic procedures such as apnea testing, spirometry, and sputum induction
• Monitor and document staff performance
• Assists with staff orientation and competency development
• Instructs, monitors, and provides feedback to students
• Incorporates safety, infection control and quality improvement guidelines into the environment of care

Responsible for the safe and effective administration of medically prescribed medications, knowing their indications and contraindications

• Knows and follows the indications and contraindications for administering therapeutic modalities
• Monitors and troubleshoots oxygen administration as requested
• Assures the proper and safe use of medical gas cylinders (oxygen, heliox, nitric oxide)
• Performs bedside PFT testing. May perform testing in PFT lab following adequate training and/or orientation
• Performs arterial punctures using radial and brachial sites
• Be a member of the "code team" responding to arrest situations
• As part of the team may be expected to perform CPR (compression)
• Must be certified in CPR procedures bi-annually
• Responds to Rapid Response Team calls

Responsible for the set up, safety check, monitoring, adjustments to, and troubleshooting of mechanical ventilators

• Responsible for the set up and administration of CPAP and non-invasive ventilation
• Report patient progress, and anticipated changes in patient care to the next shift
• Proper documentation in department records
• Participates in staff meetings, attends lectures, conferences and seminars
• Assists with bedside bronchoscopies in ventilated/non-ventilated patients

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Completion of a two or four year Respiratory Care program approved by the Commission on the accreditation of Respiratory Care (CoARC)

Preferred Qualifications

• Neonatal and pediatric experience preferred
• License/ Certifications
• Licensed with the State of Minnesota as a Respiratory Therapist
• Certified as a Respiratory Therapist (CRT) by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NRBC)

Registered as a Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NRBC) within one year of hire