Overview

The Respiratory Therapist provides services to adult and pediatric patients.  They provide general respiratory therapy, adult and pediatric critical care, and limited diagnostics. 

Responsibilities

Performs and accurately records technical procedures safely, effectively, efficiently, and within scope of policy.

Gives rationale for actions, decisions, and clinical care, based on scientific principles, clinical practice guidelines, or successful experience.

Patient care procedures include:

• Oxygen/Aerosol Therapy
• Bronchial Hygiene
• Postural Drainage and Percussion
• Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing, VPEP, PEP, PAP
• Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation
• Cough Assist
• Aerosolized Medications
• Hand Held Nebulizer
• Metered Dose Inhaler
• Dry Powder Inhaler
• Adult/Pediatric/Neonatal Critical Care
• CPAP/BiPAP
• Mechanical ventilation including transport
• Blood collection and analysis
• Emergency tracheostomy tube replacement
• Bedside Pulmonary Function Testing

Demonstrate leadership skills

Requires decision making that will affect others

Responsible to achieve outcomes

Must be able to communicate clearly and accurately

Ability to delegate to team members and students

Must be able to receive delegation

Address conflict and stressful situation

Communicate with different personalities and engage in face to face discussion

Dealing with unpleasant or verbally/physically aggressive personalities

Must be able to use electronic mail, telephone and texting

Must be able to work in groups

Must be able to perform structured and unstructured work

Participates on call rotation as needed for patient care

Must be meet time pressure and time lines

Includes possible exposure to human body fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazardous materials and/or cleaning solutions

Requires wearing of common protective and safety equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, mask, gowns, etc.

Advocate for and participant in patient safety

Perform Low/High Level Disinfection as per manufacturer’s recommendation (IFU)

Performs and accurately records technical procedures safely, effectively, efficiently, and within scope of policy

Accountability related to meeting/exceeding department goals, DCH Values, DCH Mission and Vision

DCH Standards:

• Maintains performance, patient and employee satisfaction and financial standards as outlined in the performance evaluation.
• Performs compliance requirements as outlined in the Employee Handbook
• Must adhere to the DCH Behavioral Standards including creating positive relationships with patients/families, coworkers, colleagues and with self.
• Requires use of electronic mail, time and attendance software, learning management software and intranet.
• Must adhere to all DCH Health System policies and procedures.
• All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Current Alabama Respiratory Therapist license.

Currently credentialed as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT). If not currently certified, must obtain certification within 90 days of hire date.

BLS required

PALS and ACLS preferred

Must be able to read, write legibly, speak and comprehend English.

WORKING CONDITIONS

 

WORK CONTEXT

• Interpersonal relationships: Includes demonstrating leadership skills. Delegating to team members, addressing conflict, communication with all types of personalities, and being responsible for outcomes/results.
• Physical work conditions: Includes exposure to human fluids, disease, infection, lab chemicals and hazard materials and/or cleaning solutions. Requires wearing common protective or safety equipment.
• Structural job characteristics: Includes decision making and critical thinking to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. Must be able to work regular assigned schedule with occasional long hours.

PHYSICAL FACTORS

              ABILITY

• Ability to tolerate prolonged periods of standing and walking.
• Ability to run in emergency situations.  
• Ability to feel and perceive temperatures, texture, shape and size with fingertips. 

ACTIVITES

• Physical activities include talking, hearing, bending, twisting, walking, running, stooping, kneeling, crawling, reaching, pushing, crouching, pulling, lifting, repetitive motion, standing.
• Must be able to use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

REQUIREMENTS

• Heavy work. Exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds constantly to move objects.
• Must be able to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation
• Hearing and vision must be normal or corrected to within normal range.
• Physical presence onsite is essential.