Respiratory Therapist I/II - $8K sign on

**RESPIRATORY THERAPIST I (NEW GRADUATE)**

POSITION SUMMARY

The Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) or respiratory therapist is an individual trained in the technical aspects of respiratory care and will exhibit those skills and deliver modalities of respiratory therapy, emergent and intensive respiratory care, and diagnostic procedures. Work hours are 24-hour coverage with rotational shift that includes day, night, weekend, holiday shifts plus occasional overtime and on-call.

**RESPIRATORY THERAPIST II**

POSITION SUMMARY

The Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) or respiratory therapist is an individual trained in the technical aspects of respiratory care and will exhibit those skills and deliver modalities of respiratory therapy, emergent and intensive respiratory care, and diagnostic procedures. Work hours are 24-hour coverage with rotational shift that includes day, night, weekend, holiday shifts plus occasional overtime and on-call.

**RESPIRATORY THERAPIST I (NEW GRADUATE)**

NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Associate of Science Degree in Respiratory Care from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)

Credentials:

• Must have and maintain a current valid Respiratory Care Practitioner license from any state of the United States of America, The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States
• Must have and maintain a current valid Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) or Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)

Certification:

• Must maintain a current valid certification of the following throughout employment:
  • Must have and maintain a current valid BLS Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA)
  • Must have and maintain a current valid Advance Cardiopulmonary Life Support (ACLS) Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA), if none, must obtain within 90 days from date of hire
  • Must have and maintain a current valid Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA), if none, must obtain within 180 days from date of hire
  • Must have and maintain a current valid Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA), if none, must obtain within 180 days from date of hire
• Must obtain Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) licensure within 1 year from date of hire.

Experience:

Must have official copies of clinical rotation experience from the attended Respiratory Care program

Other Skills and Abilities:

A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers.  All employment references must address and indicate success in each one of the following areas:

• Positive working relationships with others
• Possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints
• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems
• Ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions
• Ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job.
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job.
• Submission of all required employment-related documents, application, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.

**RESPIRATORY THERAPIST II**

NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Associate degree in respiratory care from an accredited CoARC school of Respiratory Therapy.

Credentials:

• Must have and maintain a current valid Respiratory Care Practitioner license from any state of the United States of America, The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States
• Must have and maintain a current valid Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

Certification:

• Must have and maintain a current valid certification of the following throughout employment:
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA)
  • Advance Cardiopulmonary Life Support (ACLS) Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA), if none, must obtain within 90 days from date of hire
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA), if none, must obtain within 180 days from date of hire
  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Certification from the American Heart Association (AHA), if none, must obtain within 180 days from date of hire

Experience:

Must have two (2) years of recent experience in respiratory care at a general/acute hospital

Other Skills and Abilities:

A record of satisfactory performance in all prior and current employment as evidenced by positive employment references from previous and current employers.  All employment references must address and indicate success in each one of the following areas:

• Positive working relationships with others
• Possession of high ethical standards and no history of complaints
• Reliable and dependable; reports to work as scheduled without excessive absences
• Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems
• Ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions
• Ability to concentrate on a task over a period without being distracted
• Completion of and above-satisfactory scores on all job interviews, demonstrating to the satisfaction of the interviewees and TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job 
• Successful completion of and positive results from all background and reference checks, including positive employment references from authorized representatives of past and current employers demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC a record of satisfactory performance and that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Successful completion of fingerprint clearance requirements, physical examinations, and other screenings indicating that the applicant is qualified to be employed by TCRHCC and demonstrating to the satisfaction of TCRHCC that the applicant can perform the essential functions of the job
• Submission of all required employment-related documents, applications, resumes, references, and other required information free of false, misleading or incomplete information, as determined by TCRHCC.

**RESPIRATORY THERAPIST I (NEW GRADUATE)**

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. New graduate will have an assigned preceptor for 3 months; preceptor continuation will be determined after the 3-month evaluation.
2. Administer volume oriented intermittent positive pressure breathing therapy (IPPB); chest physical therapy (CPT) i.e., percussion, vibration, and postural drainage; aerosol therapy; incentive spirometry therapy; and mixed gas therapy treatments.
3. Provide patient assessments during rounds of treatments/medication administration and/or mechanical ventilator checks.
4. Provide pre-operative instruction regarding post-operative respiratory therapy modalities; instruction for home respiratory care; and instruction for breathing retraining.
5. Initiate, monitor and discontinue all modes of oxygen therapy and initiates, monitor and discontinue all modes of supplemental airway humidification, including ultrasonic nebulizers, continuous aerosols, and humidity tents in conjunction with physician’s orders.
6. Obtain and/or induce adequate sputum specimens for lab analysis. Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, orders repairs when necessary.
7. Provide diagnostic evaluation of spirometric and pulmonary mechanics to include vital capacity, peak flow, forced expiratory volume and/or flow rates.
8. Initiate, monitor, and discontinue mechanical support of ventilation. Performs weaning parameters, extubation, and evaluate need for further airway support and communicates with the physician.  Wean patients from ventilators per department policy and procedure. Perform patient assessment duties. Chart in the patient record summary of all therapy modalities administered.
9. Receive documents and carry out verbal orders from the physician related to respiratory care. Check for current and accurate physicians’ orders, if necessary, notify the clinical supervisor.  Act as a consultant to the physician on matters of respiratory care and the practice of respiratory therapy.
10. Assist in the training and orientation of students and new employees when requested to do so. Perform related duties as assigned. Teach, train, supervise, and utilize the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, and assistants.
11. Perform, administer, and evaluate cardiopulmonary diagnostic studies (PFT, Holter Monitor, EKG, ETT, etc.).
12. Assist in emergency and/or elective intubation, oral or nasal, on patient with impending respiratory failure/cardiac arrest. Provide tracheostomy care (changing and maintaining tracheal tubes). Perform arterial and venous punctures for the purpose of blood analysis.
13. Upon the successful completion of the 3-month evaluation, new RT will act as charge therapist when assigned. Charge or lead responsibilities include but are not limited to making out shift assignments and handling emergency calls.
14. Comply with all safety rules regarding oxygen delivery, setup, storage, and administration as set forth by the National Fire Prevention (NFPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP).
15. Maintain the skills and knowledge necessary to administer care to all age groups. Educate patients of family on proper use respiratory equipment, pulmonary disease, and respiratory medication as ordered.
16. Maintain positive working relationships with others with excellent customer service abilities, effective listening, and communication skills (i.e., ability to communicate with colleagues, patients, and families during time of emotional and physical stress).
17. Responsible for electronic health records data entry pertinent to patient service role.
18. Takes on-call responsibilities for night shift coverage when assigned
19. Ensure proper PPE is always worn while on duty including but not limited to, face mask, gloves, gown, isolation gown, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher, if available), and eye or face shield.
20. Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. (see CDC website for most current updates)
21. Complete task training for all routine cleaning and decontamination processes for all surfaces contaminated by a communicable disease to ensure a high level of patient, visitor, employee, and external customer satisfaction
22. Perform other duties as assigned. (e.g., check oxygen tank, maintain / order respiratory supplies in various units and department, maintain crash cart, complete maintenance logs).
23. Performs other duties assigned duties according to CLIA/TJC Standards for the Arterial Blood Gas Lab and Urease Breath Testing (e.g. quality control, maintenance, and other quality assurance protocols).

**RESPIRATORY THERAPIST II**

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Administer volume oriented intermittent positive pressure breathing therapy (IPPB); chest physical therapy (CPT) i.e., percussion, vibration and postural drainage; aerosol therapy; incentive spirometry therapy; and mixed gas therapy treatments.
2. Provide patient assessments during rounds of treatments/medication administration and/or mechanical ventilator checks.
3. Provide pre-operative instruction regarding post- operative respiratory therapy modalities; instruction for home respiratory care; and instruction for breathing retraining.
4. Initiate, monitor and discontinue all modes of oxygen therapy and initiates, monitor and discontinue all modes of supplemental airway humidification, including ultrasonic nebulizers, continuous aerosols and humidity tents in conjunction with physician’s orders.
5. Obtain and/or induce adequate sputum specimens for lab analysis. Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, orders repair when necessary.
6. Provide diagnostic evaluation of spirometric and pulmonary mechanics to include vital capacity, peak flow, forced expiratory volume and/or flow rates.
7. Initiate, monitor, and discontinue mechanical support of ventilation. Perform weaning parameters, extubation, and evaluate need for further airway support and communicates with the physician.  Wean patients from ventilators per department policy and procedure. Perform patient assessment duties. Charts in the patient record summary of all therapy modalities administered.
8. Receive documents and carries out verbal orders from the physician related to respiratory care. Check for current and accurate physicians’ orders, if necessary, notifies the clinical supervisor.  Act as a consultant to the physician on matters of respiratory care and the practice of respiratory therapy.
9. Assist in the training and orientation of students and new employees when requested to do so. Perform related duties as assigned. Teach, train, supervise, and utilize the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, and assistants.
10. Perform, administer, and evaluates cardiopulmonary diagnostic studies (PFT, Holter Monitor, EKG, ETT, etc.).
11. Assist in emergency and/or elective intubation, oral or nasal, on patient with impending respiratory failure/cardiac arrest. Provide tracheostomy care (changing and maintaining tracheal tubes). Perform arterial and venous punctures for the purpose of blood analysis.
12. Act as charge therapist when assigned. Charge or lead responsibilities include but are not limited to making out shift assignments and handling emergency calls. Comply with all safety rules regarding oxygen delivery, setup, storage and administration as set forth by the National Fire Prevention (NFPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP).
13. Maintain the skills and knowledge necessary to administer care to all age groups. Educate patients of family on proper use respiratory equipment, pulmonary disease, and respiratory medication as ordered.
14. Maintains positive working relationships with others with excellent customer service abilities, effective listening, and communication skills (i.e., ability to communicate with colleagues, patients and families during time of emotional and physical stress)
15. Responsible for electronic health records data entry pertinent to patient service role.
16. Take on-call responsibilities for night shift coverage when assigned.
17. Ensure proper PPE is always worn while on duty including but not limited to, face mask, gloves, gown, isolation gown, NIOSH-approved N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher, if available), and eye or face shield.
18. Complete all donning and doffing tasks in a safe acceptable method and discard of used PPE accordingly. (see CDC website for most current updates)
19. Complete task training for all routine cleaning and decontamination processes for all surfaces contaminated by a communicable disease to ensure a high level of patient, visitor, employee and external customer satisfaction.
20. Performs other duties as assigned. (e.g., check oxygen tank, maintain / order respiratory supplies in various units and department, maintain crash cart). Performs duties assigned duties according to CLIA/TJC Standards for the Arterial Blood Gas Lab and Urease Breath Testing (e.g., quality control, maintenance, and other quality assurance protocols).