A Brief OverviewRespiratory Therapist assess patients with respiratory disorders, conduct diagnostic testing, develop treatment plans, and administer respiratory therapy. Operate medical devices, monitor patient responses, and provide emergency care. Work with healthcare teams to help manage respiratory conditions, improving lung function and respiratory health.
Conduct tests that support the evaulation of cardiopulmonary functions. Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of medications and respiratory equipment. Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, and medication and dosage, compatible with physician orders.
Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders. Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears. Maintain charts that contain paitents' pertinent identification and therapy information.
Perform oxygen requirement testing with patients. Instruct and perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises. Provide emergency care, including artificial respiration, external cardiac massage and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Monitors patient's physiological response to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes, and consul with physician if adverse reacions occur. Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses , and other heath care professionals to manage patient care by assistig with medical procedures and related duties. Regular and reliable attendance.
Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel. Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary. Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
Relay blood analysis results to a physician. Set up, operate, evaluate and communicate to providers on devices such as mechanical ventilators, NIV apparatus, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, enviromental control systems, and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment. Teach, train, supervise, and utilize the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians and EKG technicians.
QualificationsAssociate’s Degree (AA) Graduate of an CoARC approved Respiratory Therapist program. RequiredLiscensed by the State of Iowa as Respiratory Care and Polysomnography Respiratory Care Practitioner. RequiredCredentialed by the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
Required1-2 years prior acute care experience PreferredKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities.
This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Uses written and verbal communication effectively with all health care personnel. Promotes communication and relays information in a clear manner. Understands and acts within the guidelines for addressing ethical concerns.
Communicates delays or wait times to the patient/significant others. Administers ordered treatments and medications promptly according to hospital policies and procedures. Responds to all clinical procedures and emergencies in a timely manner, and responds to all clinical and emergencies in a timely manner.
Demonstrates the ability to perform respiratory assessment. Differentiates variations of normal and abnormal assessment findings. Analyzes abnormal findings, initiates appropriate respnse.
Anticipates actual or potential problems in the hospital settings. Evaluates patient's response to care and comprehension of education. Evaluates patient response to therapy, recommends required changes to physician.
Documents all aspects of the Respiratory Care process in a legible, concise, clear and timely manner utilizing the EMR or appropriate hospital forms, utilizing correct medical terminology and accepted abbreviations. Demonstrates sound judgement with the Respiratory Care process based on critical thinking skills and a problem solving approach. Utilizes evidence-based practices when applicable.
Demonstrates the ability to utilize appropriate equipment when providing Respiratory Care according to department and hospital policies. This includes the ability to trouble shoot equipment. For professionalism, follow hospital dress code, treat others with respect per hospital procedure.
Stay current within the field of Respiratory Care, expand knowledge base. Performs as a team member with all hospital care personnel. The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Registered Respiratory Therapist Upon Hire RequiredDriver's License Upon Hire RequiredAdvanced Cardiac Life Support - American Heart Association within 90 Days RequiredNeonatal Resuscitation Program - American Academy of Pediatrics within 90 Days RequiredPediatric Advanced Life Support - American Heart Association within 90 Days RequiredChild Abuse Iowa Mandatory Reporter - Iowa Department of Human Services within 90 Days RequiredDependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter - Iowa Department of Human Services within 90 Days RequiredQualifications:731020- WB Respiratory Therapy.
Give and receive adequate report. Perform respiratory therapy with patients as ordered in all patient populations; chest percussion therapy, nebulizer, oxygen titration (low to high oxygen therapy) and qualification, inhaler, incentive spirometry, Negative Inspiratory Force and Positive Expiratory Force measurement, peak flow meter, tracheostomy cares, electrocardiogram, obtaining and analyzing arterial blood gases, suctioning.
Initiate, manage and discontinue non-invasive ventilation and invasive ventilation per physician request or procedure. Document accurately in an EMR. Transport patient on respiratory machines.
Manage and troubleshoot respiratory equipment. Perform pulmonary function testing with patients. Respond to medical alerts per hospital procedure.
Notify physicians with critical results. Precept Respiratory care and EMS students. Complete quality assurance measure.
Must pass RRT registry exam within 1 year or will move to CRT wage scale.753520-WB Pulmonary Rehabilitation- Perform a multidisciplinary assessment. Develop a treatment plan, exercise training and patient education. Have a understanding of the philosophy and goals of pulmonary rehabilitation, be knowledgeable in program administration, marketing, patient education, exercise training and reimbursement.
Communication and make referrals to providers. Maintain competencies including ACLS, BLS.731022- FM Respiratory Therapy. Assumes the responsibility of certain diagnostic and outpatient services including EEG, EKG, Cardiac Stress Testing, Holter Monitoring, Pulmonary Function Testing, Pulse Oximetry, Fit Testing, Six Minute Walks and assisting with pulmonary/cardiac rehabilitation.
RT also coordinates and assists with Ventilator Care, PAP