Respiratory Therapist

Job Summary: To evaluate and administer therapeutic and diagnostic respiratory care and life support to patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. To consult with physicians concerning the development and modification of patient care plans.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures and tests, equipment, patient assessment, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, physics, and mathematics. Knowledge of respiratory health promotion and disease prevention. Verbal and written communication skills. Interpersonal skills to interact with patients and team members. Ability to alleviate patient anxiety. Ability to maintain equipment and supplies. Ability to ensure compliance with workplace safety, environmental, and/or infection control practices.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluates patients through interviews, limited physical examinations, and conducting diagnostic tests; consults with physician to address patient care respiratory therapy needs.
• Operates and monitors respiratory equipment such as continuous and intermittent ventilators, medical gas delivery apparatus, incentive breathing/hyperinflation devices, environmental control systems and aerosol devices.
• Administers medical gases, humidification, aerosols, and respiratory medications; maintains clearance of patient's natural and artificial airways; obtains blood samples and interprets blood gas data; and provides emergency cardiopulmonary assistance.
• Monitors patient's physiological responses to therapy such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes.
• Educates patient and family members on the use of ventilators and other life-support systems, breathing exercises, and use of medications.
• Inspects, sanitizes, tests, and maintains respiratory equipment. Maintains applicable records and documentation. Ensures compliance with workplace safety, environmental, and/or infection control practices.
• The duties listed are general in nature and are examples of the duties and responsibilities performed and are not meant to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Management retains the right to add or change duties at any time.

Physical and Environmental Demands: Requires occasional exposure to unpleasant or disagreeable physical environment such as high noise level and exposure to heat and cold, frequent handling or working with potentially dangerous equipment, constant exposure to biohazardous conditions such as risk of radiation exposure, blood borne pathogens, fumes or airborne particles, and/or toxic or caustic chemicals which mandate attention to safety considerations, occasional working hours significantly beyond regularly scheduled hours, occasional activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature, constant work produced subject to precise measures of quantity and quality, constant bending, frequent lifting and carrying more than 100 pounds, occasional climbing, occasional crawling, frequent crouching/stooping, occasional driving, frequent kneeling, frequent pushing/pulling, frequent reaching, occasional sitting, constant standing, frequent twisting, and constant walking. (occasional-up to 20%, frequent-from 21% to 50%, constant-51% or more)