Respiratory Therapist

Overview

Minimum Education:

Associate’s Degree in Respiratory Care from an accredited program.
Required Registration/License/Certification

Current Kansas respiratory therapy license.
Certified Respiratory Therapist credential from the NBRC
Basic Life Support certification, ACLS and NRP successfully completed within the first 90 days of employment.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Commits to the mission, vision, beliefs and consistently demonstrates our core values.
Initiates assessment and reassessment based on pulmonary condition including moderate sedation.
Monitors and administers respiratory care modalities to patients; identifies contra-indications and patient response to therapy; records therapy and outcomes in the patient’s medical record.
Develops plans for the delivery of respiratory care as directed by physician(s) or protocols.
Contacts physicians regarding changes in the patient’s condition and treatment needs.
Performs arterial phlebotomy; draws from arterial lines as appropriate.
Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and airway management.
Performs respiratory care discharge planning.
Provides disease/process-specific patient/family education.
Respiratory therapy technician must present his—or herself in a professional manner to fellow workers.  This includes neat and clean appearance and conducting oneself in an acceptable manner.
The respiratory technician is responsible for reporting any problems that arise in the hospital concerning Respiratory Therapy to the director as soon as possible.
The technician is to be familiar with different types of respiratory treatments such as:
Humidity and aerosol therapy
Incentive spirometry and chest physiotherapy
Resuscitation, suctioning and oxygen therapy
Deliveries and nursery
Holter monitor
Pulmonary function testing
Meter dose inhaler teaching
Arterial blood gases
To operate and maintain respiratory equipment
Ability to respond to patient needs from neonatal through gerontological age level
Scheduling Sleep Studies
Essential Function:

Prolonged, extensive or considerable standing/walking.
Motor coordination and manual dexterity
Daily lifts supplies and equipment up to 25lbs
Occasional lifts/position/transfer patient, 200 pounds. Moderate physical effort
Normal eyesight, with and without corrective lenses
Normal hearing, with or without hearing aid
Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling and crouching.
Ability to carry out procedures as outlined (This list is not exhaustive and may be supplement and necessary.)

 

Typical Working Conditions:

Regularly exposed to the risk of blood borne disease.
Contact with patients under a wide variety of circumstance.
Exposed to unpleasant elements (accidents, injuries, illness)
Subject to varying and unpredictable situations
Occasional subjected to irregular hours
Occasional subjected to call back hours
Occasional exposed to stress
Handles emergency or crisis situation
May perform emergency care
Subject to interruptions (This list is not exhaustive and may be supplement as necessary)