Title:  Sr Registered Respiratory Therapy - Le Bonheur Children's | Full Time Days Job

Summary

The Senior Registered Respiratory Therapist (Sr RRT) is responsible for the standard and advanced respiratory care procedures for patients suffering from various cardiopulmonary disorders and for performing other examinations and procedures as directed, such as but not limited to pulmonary function lab, neonatal intensive care, HBO.  Models appropriate behavior as exemplified in MLH Mission, Vision and Values. 

Education/Experience/Licensure

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Must have completed competency and skill in advanced airway management.
• Ability to understand and prepare moderately complex written materials, such as patient records.
• Ability to communicate verbally with Associates, physicians, and other outside professionals.
• Prepared by education, training, or experience to work with the age specific populations, preferred.
• Ability to work without close supervision and to exercise independent judgment.
• Ability to organize multiple tasks and projects and maintain control of work flow.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Performs routine respiratory therapy procedures including IPPB, O2 therapy, humidity/aerosol therapy, pulmonary function lab, neonatal intensive care, HBO in an assigned area on patients.
• Coordinates specialty area operations, subject to review by the Supervisor/Director, including scheduling, patient assignments, monitoring of program activities, and coordinating among other team members/disciplines to ensure effectiveness of operations and the delivery of quality patient care.
• Establishes and maintains ventilation and airway care for assigned patients, provides ventilatory support to patients receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation, performs tracheal intubations, and may assist the physician in performing bronchoscopy, tracheostomies or other invasive procedures and monitoring.  Conducts inspiratory force measurements and vital capacity tests, performs arterial blood gas punctures and analysis.  May perform bedside pulmonary function tests and in lab with appropriate training.
• Performs patient assessment and reassessment through observation of the patient, clinical data gathering, response to therapy and reports findings accurately making referrals to appropriate disciplines as needed.
• Provides educational development through guidance and teaching and serves as a technical resource person to the patient, patient's family, physician, students and other hospital staff regarding respiratory care procedures.
• Recognizes and reacts appropriately to environmental safety factors and performs preventative and routine maintenance on respiratory care equipment and instruments.
• Participates in departmental/hospital continuous improvement opportunities.
• Performs other job functions as assigned or requested.

Physical Requirements

• The physical activities of this position may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion.
• Must have good balance and coordination.
• The physical requirements of this position are: medium work - exerting up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 25 lbs. of force frequently.
• The Associate is required to have close visual acuity including color, depth perception, and field of vision to perform an activity, such as assessing patients, preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; or extensive reading.
• Frequent invasive and non-invasive patient contact.
• Exposure to patient body fluids as well as exposure to hazardous or poisonous materials.
• Ability to react quickly to emergency situations.