Respiratory Therapist II

I. Job Summary: A licensed California Respiratory Care Practitioner with additional certification from the American Association of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist, who will provide respiratory care in accordance to the Respiratory Care Practice Act, hospital policy and procedure manuals. The RCP 2 will provide respiratory care to inpatients and outpatients as ordered by the physician. Under the supervision of the Director, Clinical Manager or Technical Coordinator provides but not limited to basic respiratory care, emergency respiratory care, ventilator management and some cardiology procedures. II. Technical and Job Specific Skill: 1. Telephone Skills - Must demonstrate hospital telephone etiquette by answering the phones promptly, courteously and by identifying department and self. 2. Policy/Procedures - Is aware of and follows all hospital and department policies and procedures. 3. Teamwork - Promotes positive co-worker relationships through teamwork and cooperation. Understands and supports the needs of individuals in other departments and promotes conflict resolution. Shares information, work knowledge and experience with co-workers, physicians, and students in a non-threatening manner. Offers assistance and promptly responds to requests. 4. Productivity - Maintains high productivity and performs efficiently regardless of whether the work volume is high or low. Appropriately prioritizes work activities. Responds to difficult situations with self-control and a positive attitude. Makes decisions independently and knows when to ask for assistance. Exercises good judgement and arrives at sound decisions. 5. Department Specific Duties: Maintains the department's appearance by keeping paperwork filed, supplies and personal items put away. Documents in the multidisciplinary care plan and education sheet as appropriate. Runs Quality Controls on the ABG machines as appropriate. Recognizes, remedies and documents when controls are out of range. Helps with data collection for process improvement monitoring and reporting. Orientates and trains personnel as directed. May act as team-leader when necessary. 6. Basic Respiratory Care: Is considerate to all patients and their needs by age, ethnic background, ability to comprehend, hear and understand instructions at all times. Educates/instructs and documents on all relevant paperwork. Sets up, discontinues, cleans and assembles equipment for all modes of respiratory therapy. Provides airway clearance, delivers oxygen and inhaled drugs as according within the scope of accepted respiratory care practices. 7. Respiratory Critical Care: Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of ventilator use including noninvasive ventilator use, sets up and makes changes of modalities to benefit patient's removal from assisted ventilation. Offers recommendation to patient care to the healthcare team. Draws, performs analysis and helps the healthcare team interpret results of arterial blood gases. Can perform simple maintenance on the ABG machine. Can do bedside pulmonary function testing. May be able to do formal pulmonary function testing in the Pulmonary Lab. 8. Cardiology Care: Provides CPR, EKGs and can place holter monitors on patients for 24 hour recordings. 9. Performs any other duties or responsibilities, which may be assigned. B. Key Success Factors 1. Attendance - Employee reports to work each regularly scheduled workday. Accurately records all work time including meal periods. 2. Punctuality - Is ready for work at precise starting time and continues working until scheduled departure time. Returns on time from all meal periods. 3. General Work Habits - Readily accepts work assignments in a positive manner. Performs work that is accurate, neat and consistent. Documentation is legible. 4. Safety - Keeps work area neat and maintains equipment in accordance with health and safety codes. Reports safety issues and equipment failures appropriately. 5. Appearance - Projects a professional image, follows the hospital dress code policy and/or department requirements. Wears hospital ID badge at all times on duty. 6. Confidentiality - Sensitive information including, but not limited to, patient records, charts, hospital documents and employee information is kept confidential without exception. 7. Annual Requirements - Completes annual requirements (PPD, requirements, Annual Update, Ethics Training, Licensure and/or Professional Certification) on time. C. Performance/Process Improvement Is knowledgeable of performance/process improvement (P.I.) methodology. Can verbalize knowledge of hospital-wide performance/process improvement activity. Offers suggestions for departmental and/or hospital-wide performance/ process improvement. Knowledge of and participation in the performance/process improvement is a condition of employment. IV. Training, Experience, Education: Mandatory: 1. Current license with the state of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner. 2. Current CPR card. 3. Current PALS card 4. Current ACLS card 5. Registered as an RRT by the National Board for Respiratory Care (If employed before 1995 as an RCP2 the employee will be grand fathered in to current job description without being required to be registered with the National Board for Respiratory Care.) 6. Minimum of High School diploma or equivalent, or above. Preferred: 1. Basic computer knowledge and skills. 2. 2 years experience in acute care. V. Physical Requirements: 1. The ability to stand and walk for long periods of time. 2. Must have dexterity, coordination and visual/auditory acuity to perform job duties. 3. Must be able to turn, lift and position patients up to 300 pounds with help. 4. Must be able to reach, stretch and assist patients routinely. 5. Must be able to lift and carry boxes up to 30 pounds. 6. May be necessary to push up to 400 pounds