Respiratory Care Practitioner I - Respiratory - Full Time/Nights - Req# 2117974473

## Description **Job Objective:** Work under the management of the Director of Respiratory Therapy Services and the direction of the assigned Respiratory Therapy Supervisor. A Respiratory Therapist I must display knowledge and ability to provide respiratory care to a wide range of patients from Pediatric to Geriatric. A Respiratory Therapist I is able to work in the Intensive Care Unit or the Emergency room as well as Pediatrics and on all floors of the Hospital. **Duties and Responsibilities:** **A. Maintains high standards of customer service** **B. Provides routine bronchodilator therapy and patient assessment:** - Uses Hand Held Nebulizer - Uses Metered Dose Inhaler - Competent with Continuous Nebulization - Can use IPPB - Able to identify different breath sounds, their meaning and recognize changes - Recognizes accessory muscle use - Uses Peak Flow Meter to assess efficacy of treatments - Performs Bedside Pulmonary Function Tests **C. Provides oxygen therapy:** - Expert in standard 02 delivery devices, their uses and liter flow requirements - Able to use and set up both heated and cool aerosol therapy - Able to use and set up High-Flow Nasal cannula - Understands danger of 02 misuse, especially for CO2 retainers **D. Provides Critical Care:** - Manages Ventilators on intubated patients - Obtains Arterial Blood Gases (ABGs) or Capillary Blood Gases (CBGs) and recommends a course of action based on their results - Places and manages non-invasive ventilation on patients - Assists with intubations - Performs intubations in emergencies after certification **E. Provides Emergency Care.** - Responds to all Code Blues - Is competent in bag and mask or bag and ET tube ventilation - Able to work under extreme pressure and stress **F. Documents and communicates well** - Therapist must document therapies and evaluations completely and accurately in the patient record whether manually or electronically - Therapist must be responsible for assuring all actions are reflected in the daily billing by end of shift - Therapist must ensure all scheduled therapies are entered into the computer accurately - Must be able to communicate well with other members of the health care team, including doctors, nurses and other therapists **Non-Essential Duties:** - Assists the Director of Respiratory Services and Supervisors or designee in completing alternate job duties as instructed. - Maintains a professional behavior - Always represents Antelope Valley Hospital and the Respiratory Therapy Department in a positive **Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:** **Knowledge** - Thorough knowledge of Pulmonary Disease states, their signs, symptoms and treatments - Knowledge of and ability to use a wide variety of ventilation strategies to treat patients - Knowledge of current practice in the care of Geriatrics, and Pediatrics - Knowledge of medications used in Respiratory Therapy, their methods of administration, dosages, diseases treated, effects and adverse effects - Knowledge of pulmonary anatomy in adults and the effects of disease on the pulmonary anatomy - Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests and behaviors of age specific groups. - Demonstrates knowledge regarding the special needs, interests, and behaviors of patients requiring critical or specialized care. **Skills** - Skill at drawing ABGs and CBGs - Demonstrated good communication skills. - Good organizational skills. **Abilities** - Ability to accurately interpret results of ABGs and CBGs and initiate corrective action - Ability to assemble, test, and place into use all respiratory therapy equipment used at AVH for Adult and Pediatric care - Ability to think and act quickly in high-pressure situations **Education and Experience:** **Education** - Graduate from school accredited for the education of Respiratory Care Practitioners and recognized by the state of California or the state of the school's location. - High School diploma or GED equivalent **Experience** - Minimum expe…