The Respiratory Care Practitioner is responsible for the assessment of respiratory patients with acute and chronic illnesses, to ensure delivery of clinically appropriate respiratory care procedures as prescribed by the medical staff for neonate, pediatric, adolescent and adult patients.
Job Requirements
Education
Requires advanced knowledge of respiratory care principles, practices and procedures such as management skills, research results, diagnostic methodologies, and new techniques normally acquired through completion of an Associate of Science Degree/Bachelor of Sciencein Respiratory Care.
Satisfactory completion of annual mandatory education requirements.
Experience
3-6 months of on-the-job experience to gain knowledge of hospital policies, procedures and routines required.
License/Certifications
Registered respiratory therapist (R.R.T.) with the National Board of Respiratory Care within 18 months of accepting the Advanced Practitioner position required.
Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license by the state of Nebraska required.
Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification required.
Current American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification required.
Current American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Life Support (PALS) Certification preferred.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Certification required for therapists who work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Women's Hospital.
Satisfactory completion of annual mandatory education requirements required.
Skills/Knowledge/Abilities
Requires a high degree of ability and skill in written and verbal communication to accurately relay appropriate and high quality recommendations to other members of the patient care team.
Requires advanced knowledge of respiratory care principles, practices, and procedures such as management skills, research results, diagnostic methodologies, and new techniques.
Must be available two shifts/month.
Physical Requirements
Weight Demands
Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force.
Physical Activity
Occasionally Performed (1%-33%):
Climbing
Crawling
Kneeling
Sitting
Frequently Performed (34%-66%):
Balancing
Carrying
Crouching
Distinguish colors
Keyboarding/typing
Lifting
Pulling/Pushing
Repetitive Motions
Standing
Stooping/bending
Twisting
Walking
Constantly Performed (67%-100%):
Fingering/Touching
Grasping
Hearing
Reaching
Seeing/Visual
Speaking/talking
Job Hazards
Not Related:
Explosives (pressurized gas)
Electrical Shock/Static
Radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma (particles such as X-ray, Cat Scan, Gamma Knife, etc)
Radiation Non-Ionizing (Ultraviolet, visible light, infrared and microwaves that causes injuries to tissue or thermal or photochemical means)
Rare (1-33%):
Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex)
Mechanical moving parts/vibrations
Occasionally (34%-66%):
Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact) Blood or Body Fluid (BBF)
Documents procedures in patient record according to departmental procedure.
Documents patient assessment, interventions and progress in the medical information system.
Updates the patient care plans and goals to reflect appropriate patient care needs.
Develops/reviews/revises plan of care as needed to provide optimum patient care outcome.
Receives and interprets physician orders according to professional field of knowledge.
Evaluates patients in cooperation with attending physician.
Recommends appropriate care based on American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) clinical practice guidelines.
Regularly communicates with other patient care team members to exchange information regarding condition and progress of assigned patients.
Gives a complete verbal or written report to oncoming care provider.
Uses communication board and patient care plan to keep nurse and other caregivers updated on patient's progress.
Communicates to appropriate personnel regarding unresolved issues.
Maintains continuity of hospital services to ensure optimum and timely patient care interventions.
Provides diagnostic procedures, within the Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP)'s scope of practice, for departments such as Heart Station and Pulmonology. Also Arterial Blood Gas (ABG)'s for lab.
Works within Protocol Guidelines and ensures all patients are receiving appropriate therapy.
> 95% of all patients reviewed for protocol therapy.
Charts flagged for therapy changes.
Assists the Respiratory Care Department achieve a Patient Satisfaction rate >95%.
Is viewed as informative and helpful by Patient.
Assists with patient needs when asked whenever possible.
Works toward improving interdepartmental relations.
Helps educate nursing and ancillary staff regarding Respiratory Care procedures.
Essential Functions II
Participates in mandatory in-services and/or CE programs as mandated by policies and procedures/external agencies and as directed by management.
Follows and understands the mission, vision, core values, Employee Standards of Behavior and company policies/procedures.