Registered Respiratory Therapist (Full Time, Night Shift)

Job Summary

Performs all respiratory therapy patient modalities prescribed under a physician's order. Assigned primarily to the ICU.

Job Specific Duties

• Assesses patients in terms of clinical condition (heart rate, respiratory rate, etc.) and documents findings (Pre/Post therapy) in an accurate and timely manner. Provides feedback to physician(s).

• Ensures proper communication between physicians and families. Serves as a patient advocate/educator and provides family support and community resources.

• Provides patient information and effectively completes hand off process to peers using SBAR at shift change and patient reassignments.

• Provides education to patients/families on the continuing plan of care to include medications and side effects; updates patients/families daily on Plan of Care (POC)

• Participates in Lean initiative to assess and improve processes for opportunities to deliver higher quality, cost effective care, with greater customer service as measured by metrics.

• Participates in rounds with medical team and discusses initial (new) and follow up cases with MD and documents note.

• Serves as backup for all emergency codes (blue, rapid response, code orange).

• Performs and tests invasive and non-invasive ventilators, initiates therapy, and monitors patient/ ventilator. Ensures ventilator is working and documents equipment settings.

• Performs basic respiratory therapy for medical/surgical patients such as aerosol delivery, airway clearance, and chest physiotherapy.

• Participates in root cause analysis with any unplanned extubations.

• Performs all Quality Assurance on equipment and reports any malfunction. Removes equipment and documents if equipment failure impacted patient outcomes. Completes incident report and tags equipment.

• Follows all Infection Control standards and ensures proper use of Personal Protective Equipment per hospital policy and procedures to ensure safe patient care.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) license issued by the state of Florida

• NBRC - Ntl Board Respiratory Care

• American Heart Association (AHA) BLS - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment

• American Heart Association (AHA) ACLS required within 30 days of hire - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment

• American Heart Association (AHA) PALS required within 30 days of hire - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment

• Neonatal Resuscitation Program NRP American Academy of Pediatrics required within 30 days of hire - maintain active and in good standing throughout employment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Associate degree in respiratory care preferred.

• Knowledge of Spanish or Creole preferred.

• Ability to communicate effectively in English both verbally and in writing.

• Ability to interpret, adapt, and react calmly under stressful conditions typical of an ICU environment.

• Ability to problem solve and adapt standard clinical procedures to patients needs associated with pediatric and neonatal population.

• Ability to relate cooperatively and constructively with patients, families, and peers.

• Ability to learn appropriate software application(s) used for patient documentation and medication administration.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.

• Excellent customer service skills.

• Ability to react quickly to new challenges, unanticipated events, and resolve issues and address requests in a timely fashion.