EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate degree from a CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care program.
• No minimum experience required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in acute or critical care.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS OR CERTIFICATIONS

Required:

• Credentialed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

• Licensed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner by the Texas Medical Board

• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification
  

Preferred:

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and/or Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) as required by assigned clinical area within defined timeframe.

JOB SUMMARY

Provides comprehensive respiratory care services to neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients in accordance with physician orders, established clinical protocols, and departmental policies. Performs advanced respiratory care procedures including ventilator management, airway management, and participation in emergency response activities. Exercises clinical judgment within the scope of licensure and credentialing while collaborating with physicians, nursing staff, and interdisciplinary teams.

This classification is maintained for incumbent employees credentialed as Registered Respiratory Therapists.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Assess the respiratory care needs of patients.
• Identifies potential and actual diagnosis/patient care needs and identifies the contraindications and possible complications of patients receiving respiratory care.
• Administer, monitor, and wean mechanical ventilation; makes ventilator recommendations based on clinical and technical assessment, and laboratory values; manages airways.
• Transport patients within and outside of UTMB.
• Initiate, evaluate, and review respiratory care plans that reflect a multidisciplinary approach to appropriate preventive action.
• Set up and maintains respiratory equipment.
• Maintain oxygen, humidity, and aerosol therapy equipment inventory and supplies.
• Perform blood gas analysis and respiratory function tests.
• Participate in patient rounds.
• Provide patient/family respiratory care instruction.
• Assist in training and evaluating students and new employees.
• Adhere to AIDET guidelines.
• Document work timely, completely, and accurately, including documentation in the patient medical record, documentation in the department records, and patient billing.
• Assess patient oxygenation, ventilation, and hemodynamic status through clinical observation, patient assessment, physiologic monitoring including oximetry, capnography, ventilator waveform analysis, and cardiac output, ECG, and laboratory values;
• Provide respiratory care interventions within the scope of the Rapid Response Team
• Perform CPR.
• Perform bedside spirometry including spontaneous breathing parameters, PEFR, and other limited pulmonary function; identifies normal values for patients.
• Collaborate with other care providers regarding the plan of care and initiate, evaluate, and review respiratory care plans that reflect a multidisciplinary approach to appropriate preventive action.
• Assume an active role as a member of the Rapid Response and Code teams and Team Leader.
• Attend Neonatal deliveries.
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills as demonstrated by participation in departmental education programs (i.e., annual competency assessments).
• Proficiently provides comprehensive and effective patient/family education and instruction.
• May perform advanced competencies in assigned areas such as, high frequency ventilation, airway pressure release ventilation, heliox therapy, inhaled nitric oxide, and patient transport.
• May float to other units or campuses to perform or lead complex procedures including but not limited to the following areas: PFT/Diagnostics (Adults and/or Peds); Adult Critical Care; Neonatal/Pediatric Critical Care.
• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the set up and maintenance of respiratory equipment.
• Adhere to internal controls and reporting structure.

• Other duties as assigned.