Respiratory Care Practitioner I Registered

Job Summary :

Under physician supervision, in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Medical Director, is expected to assume primary clinical responsibility for all respiratory care modalities and to exercise considerable independent clinical judgment in the respiratory care of patients. Must be capable of serving as a technical resource person to the physician regarding current practices in respiratory care and to the hospital staff regarding effective and safe methods for administering respiratory care. Works under the general supervision of an administrative supervisor or the direction of a technical lead to deliver respiratory care services to patients in all areas of the hospital. Must be able to adapt to the particular area of duty assignment and to perform special duties required by the assignment. Standards of performance for the area to which the individual is assigned must be maintained. Special duties may include provision of basic and advanced respiratory care to neonatal and pediatric patients in the intensive care unit and during transport, which frequently requires making rapid decisions and assisting physicians to respond to status changes in neonatal and pediatric patients. Special duties may include performance of a variety of diagnostic tests of the cardiopulmonary system and to determine the effect of disease and treatment on that system.

Essential Responsibilities :

Selects Reviews, Obtains and Interprets Data :

Reads and evaluates physicians orders, clarifying as needed

Accurately transcribes physician orders to electronic charting system or departmental patient master

Reviews patient information including history, lab data, radiologic studies, progress notes, respiratory and cardiovascular monitoring data and performs assessment / data collection in systematic manner

Systematically assesses patients overall cardiopulmonary status by inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation, and patient interview

Interprets data to formulate goal-directed plan of care and determines requirements for treatment such as type and duration of therapy, precautions to be observed, equipment required, and medication and dosages

Determines modifications to physician orders, which optimize patient, care and makes recommendations to physician

Recommends procedures to obtain additional data including radiographs, bronchoscopy, Gram stain and C&S, spirometry, blood gas analysis, lung mechanics, work of breathing, EKG, nonivsasive monitoring

Performs Diagnostic Modalities :

Performs procedures and interprets results; ABG sampling and analysis, co-oximetry, spirometry, pressure-volume and flow-volume loops, cuff pressure, sputum induction

May perform EKGs

May place Holter monitor

May perform pumonary function, and sleep diagnostic tests

May perform Exercise Stress Tests

May perform indirect calorimetry

Selects Assembles and Check Equipment for Proper Function, Operation and Cleanliness :

Selects, assembles and checks equipment for cleanliness, proper function and safe operation

Ensures proper function and ready availability of respiratory related life support equipment

Troubleshoots and performs minor repairs of equipment

May perform Quality control procedures for blood analysis devices

May perform Quality control, calibrate, maintain and troubleshoot pulmonary function diagnostic equipment

Participates in routine departmental programs of cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing of respiratory care and other related equipment

Participates in routine departmental preventive maintenance program and performs basic repairs

Orders / stocks departmental supplies

Initiates, Conducts and Modifies Prescribed Therapeuti or Diagnostic Procedures :

Operates all medical equipment within manufacturer and department guidelines to safely treat patients

Checks and adjusts alarms

Observes established safety and security procedures and protects patients from nosocomial infection

Explains planned therapy or procedure and goals to patient in understandable terms to achieve optimal therapeutic outcome

Conducts therapeutic procedures to maitain a patent airway, remove bonchopulmonary secretions, and / or achieve adequate ventilation and oxygenation

Monitors patients physiological responses to therapy, recognizes patient adverse reaction and stops or modifies or recommends modification to procedure based on patient response

Documents all required information in the medical record according to departmental policy and procedure

Initiates pressure-cycled / volume-cycled / high frequency ventilation

Weans / modifies mechanical ventilation according to assessment and physician orders

Assists with or performs extubation

Conducts patient education and disease management

Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation according to resuscitation guidelines

May assist with or perform intubation

May assist the physician when performing bronchoscopy, thoracentesis, tracheostomy, cardioversion, and intubation

May participate in land / air critical care transport

May assist with high risk deliveries

May assist with surfactant replacement in neonates

May participate in pulmonary rehabilitaiton, home care

May assist with discharge planning

May assist with community outreach

May initiate and implement therapist driven protocols

Supervision and Administration :

May assign, organize and coordinate the work of assigned Respiratory Care Practitioners

May demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other helath care personnel

May train assigned practioners and complete assigned practitioner competency reviews

Contributes to departmental quality improvement activities

May schedule staff and perform staffing functions

Assesses priorities for delivery of patient care and redistributes resources as necessary throught shift

Protects data from intentional or unintentional destruction, modification, or disclosure

Maintains a current knowledge base of departmental information management systems, including collection, maintenance, and dissemination of information, as well as appropriate audit trails

May develop policies and procedures, both clinical and administrative

May serve as Timekeeper for TIME system< / li