Registered Respiratory Therapist Night Shift

The Registered Respiratory Therapist provides and promotes the delivery of cardio-respiratory patient care services in accordance with the AARC (American Association of Respiratory Care) clinical practice guidelines and the medical staff guidelines.  S/he evaluates the effectiveness of aerosol and broncodilation therapies, the appropriateness of therapies ordered.  The Registered Respiratory Therapist monitors and evaluates patients with more complex conditions, patients on  mechanical ventilation and conducts an analysis of the procurement of arterial blood gases. S/he reads orders prepared by physician and administers treatments such as oxygen therapy, CPT, postural drainage, breathing exercise, aerosol therapy and pulmonary function testing, while maintaining documentation of care, treatments, and test.  The Registered Respiratory Therapist has advance knowledge therefore is identified as the clinical expert who can accept and write orders given by a physician.

Qualifications:

Required Education:

• Associate Degree or a certificate from an accredited Respiratory Therapy program or the combination of education, knowledge, skills, mental development, and relevant experience that enables performance of all aspects of the position.
• License Respiratory Therapist by the state of Illinois.
• Registered by the National Board for Respiratory Care.

Required Experience:

• Minimum two(2) years experience within the field of Respiratory Care

Desirable Experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience as a Registered Respiratory Therapist

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Ability to monitor and evaluate patients with more complex conditions.
• Ability to accept and write verbal orders given by a physician.
• Administer all respiratory therapeutics according to regulatory, department and hospital policies and procedures while in accordance with safety programs.
• Perform assessment of the patient determining needs related to the frequency and duration of the treatment regime ordered by the physician. 
• Maintains accurate medical records.
• Carries out physicians' orders and directions as given.
• Confer with physician to develop respiratory patient care plan.
• Properly perform all aspects of respiratory including pulmonary procedure and EKG studies.
• Properly set up and maintain ventilators, change parameters of patients on ventilators as ordered by the pulmonologist, follow ventilator weaning protocol.
• Perform spontaneous parameters on all ventilator patients daily                      
• Report to all cardiac arrest calls, responsible with airway management and assist with cardiac compression
• Properly understand blood gas studies in relation with pulmonary function and long term ventilation.
• Provide education to asthma and COPD patients to assist in self-care monitoring and prevention.
• Assist in cardiopulmonary department and hospital quality improvement programs.
• Assist with training of other department staff and students.
• Participate in in-service training program of nursing and medical students.
• Assume other duties that may be deemed necessary for the operation of Respiratory Care department.
• Report adverse reaction to the physician, nurse and respiratory supervisor and or charge therapist.
• Responsible for acquiring continuing education credits every 2 years to maintain Illinois Respiratory State License.  
• Check for ordering supplies on Monday.
• Check ABG Machines at the beginning and end of shift to assure that equipment is working and functioning according to Joint Commission and the College of American Pathologist standards and Guidelines.
• Complete a walk through department to checked and make sure that all discontinued equipment has been cleaned and reset up according to standards.

• Patents:
•  Regard safety of patient as a priority in performing procedures.
• Treat patients in a professional manner.
• Exercise good judgment, tact, neatness, dependability, understanding, and accuracy.
• Maintain equipment (make sure equipment is in proper working conditions).
• Keep work area and equipment clean and neat.
• Clean, disinfect and sterilize equipment before and after patient usage according to infection control policy.
• Collaborate with other departments, as necessary to improve patient outcomes.

Quality Improvement/Safety:

• Participate in department quality improvement activities.
• Document appropriately including clinical interventions; patient responses; patient and family teaching; and discharge planning.
• Advocate and support unit, hospital, and nursing activities.
• Achieve and maintain competency in skills and comply with policies associated with the skills inventory.
• Share knowledge and expertise by participating in patient care conferences, in-service education, and serving on /department/hospital committees. 
• Research current trends in respiratory practices and technology.
• Maintain personal education record.

A Roman Catholic facility founded by the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph and sponsored by Catholic Health International, St. Bernard Hospital aspires to live in the healing mission of Christ within the South Side community of Chicago. This mission calls us to care for the sick and promote the health of the residents in the community while witnessing the Christian values of respect, dignity, caring and compassion for all persons. In all matters, St. Bernard Hospital will show a special sensitivity to the culture of the people we serve and the unique needs of the poor and powerless.