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Company: Kaiser Permanente
Location: Wailuku, HI
Career Level: Mid-Senior Level
Industries: Recruitment Agency, Staffing, Job Board

Description

Job Summary:

Monitors and ensures proper operation and functioning of respiratory therapy equipment. Monitors patients physiological parameters during therapy. Administers medical gases and aerosolized drugs.



Essential Responsibilities:

  • Initiates therapy under a Physicians order and makes appropriate recommendations for modalities of Therapy.

  • Implements therapy for, and monitors patients while on continuous mechanical ventilators and all modes of positive pressure breathing devices.

  • Utilizes clinical and other data to assess cardiopulmonary status of patients.

  • Assists in intubation.

  • Provides bedside spirometry.

  • Evaluates ventilator dependent patients' readiness to wean.

  • Administers humidified medical gases as ordered by practitioners with authority to prescribe.

  • Interprets blood gas results.

  • Consults attending physician/practitioner regarding appropriate therapy.

  • Performs arterial punctures.

  • Withdraws blood samples from indwelling lines.

  • Provides ventilatory support during special procedures.

  • Coordinates transport of ventilatory equipment.

  • Implements and monitors care of patients on heated aerosols and CPAP as per practitioner order.

  • Develops good working relationships with laboratory, x-ray, infection control, nursing, physicians and other healthcare workers to maintain optimum total patient care.

  • Cleans and maintains all respiratory therapy equipment.

  • Assists in maintaining adequate inventory of respiratory supplies.

  • Conducts quality control tests on all respiratory equipment.

  • Maintains equipment in safe, workable order; Requests repair when necessary.

  • Participates in continuous quality improvement teams as required.

  • Monitors esophageal pressures, swan ganz catheter data, CVP, arterial blood pressures, electrolytes, fluid balance and intravascular volumes as they pertain to respiratory patients.

  • Performs chest physiotherapy, manual ventilation and suctioning.

  • Positions patients to facilitate respiration.

  • Performs tracheostomy care and mouth care on intubated/trached patients.

  • Changes tracheostomy tube as ordered.

  • Performs electroencephalogram as ordered.

  • This includes taking measurements of the head, placement of electrodes, acquisition of data, monitoring of vital signs.

  • Performs polysomnography as ordered for sleep studies.

  • Documents pertinent information in medical record.

  • Documents care provided in medical record.

  • Monitors disease processes, arterial and venous catheter placement and endotracheal tube placement via chest x-ray.

  • Communicates pertinent patient information to physicians, practitioners and nurses as appropriate.

  • Participates in patient rounds with Pulmonologist/Intensivist/Neonatologist.

  • Responds to and participates in Code Blue as part of Code team/RRT Team.

  • Able to instruct patient and family on disease processes and treatments provided by Respiratory Therapy in accordance with the hospital patient/family education policies and procedures.

  • Assumes on-call status as needed.

  • Other duties as assigned.


Basic Qualifications:
Experience

  • Completion of a clinical rotation in critical care/intensive care environment, to include care of respiratory needs of acutely ill patients.


Education

  • Associates degree with major in Respiratory Therapy OR a certificate of completion from a Respiratory Care Program.


License, Certification, Registration

  • Respiratory Therapist License (Hawaii) required at hire.



  • Neonatal Resuscitation Program required at hire from American Academy of Pediatrics



  • Basic Life Support required at hire.



  • Registered Respiratory Therapist Certificate within 3 months of hire from National Board of Respiratory Care



Additional Requirements:

  • Demonstrated knowledge of and skill in written communication, oral communication, interpersonal relations, customer service, decision making, problem solving, and teamwork.



Preferred Qualifications:

  • Experience with NICU (neonatal intensive care) and cardiac surgery patient.



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