Registered Respiratory Therapist

JOB SUMMARY

The Respiratory Therapist practices in collaboration with the health care team to facilitate the coordination of care across continuum. The Respiratory Therapist provides direct care to patients who may range from infancy to geriatrics and maintains a competent level of knowledge and skill with providing direct care. This individual demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide individualized care based in physical, cultural, educational, safety, and age-specific considerations of assigned patients.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PATIENT/CUSTOMER

Essential Accountabilities

Ensures communication and collaboration with supervisors and fellow co-workers to serve patients and other customers to the best of his/her ability.

Is professional in all actions and appearance

Anticipates patients’/customers’ needs and acts accordingly.

Works to enhance patient satisfaction

Analyzes problems from the customers’ point of view.

Honors patient/customer/employee confidentiality.

Seeks feedback on how to improve performance and offers constructive feedback, as well.

Assist patients and families

Applies learning for improved performance.

Demonstrates understanding and ownership of how his/her role contributes to achieving the success of the Department and the Health System.

Demonstrates a personal commitment to ensuring a clean and safe working environment.

Uses resources wisely – as if they were one’s own.

PATIENT/EMPLOYEE SAFETY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Patient Care Providers

Participates in Entity and Department wide initiatives for

Patient /Employee safety

Demonstrates an awareness of patient/ employee safety when carrying out daily responsibilities of their position.

Validation of annual competencies required for the position

OPERATIONS

Essential Accountabilities

Demonstrates technical competence.

Consults appropriate resources to support decision-making.

Participates in the effective and efficient management of emergency situations.

Recognizes acute changes in the patient and intervenes appropriately.

Documents in an accurate, clear, precise manner, which meets the documentation standards and procedures of the department.

Performs systematic assessments in consideration of patient progression.

Interprets and integrates data from various sources into plan of care

Identifies critical aspects of the situation and the interrelationships of clinical finding (e.g. “the big picture”).

Suggests/initiates alternative approaches to care that meet patient/family needs and are consistent with medical plan treatment.

Initiates preventive measures to avoid patient problems common to practice setting.

Coordinates care with multi-disciplinary team to address unresolved issues.

Displays appropriate degree of confidence in self and seeks resources for assistance as needed.

Flexible to department needs in relation to patient assignment, shift assignment, or work schedules.

Recognizes professional responsibility to achieve goals established for unit, department and GSPP.

Shares clinical concerns with respiratory leadership and/or appropriate members of the health care team.

Delegates activities based on the role, skills, and strengths of respiratory personnel.

Offers suggestions and/or constructive criticism for improving patient care to those involved. Assumes responsibility for seeing things through to completion and for informing others of outcomes.

Asserts self with tact when dealing with other members of the health team.

Objectively listens to all sides of an issue before making a judgment.

Reinforces and supports appropriate decisions and actions of other staff members.

Directs others to appropriate resources for resolutions of issues/problems

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

Graduate from an American Medical Association (AMA) accredited Respiratory Therapy Program required

Associate's Degree preferred

Work Experience

RRT required after 2 years experience as a Respiratory Therapist

Licenses / Certifications

Respiratory Therapy license required

Active membership in the American Association for Respiratory Care is preferred

BLS (CPR) and ACLS certification required through the American Heart Association (as a health care provider).