RESPIRATORY THERAPIST

The Respiratory Therapist will provide comprehensive respiratory care for patients in an acute hospital setting. This role is vital for managing and optimizing respiratory function in critically ill patients, ensuring the highest standards of care in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will possess strong clinical skills, a commitment to patient-centered care, and the ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team.

Essential Duties

• Patient Assessment: Perform detailed assessments of patients' respiratory status, including evaluating lung sounds, breathing patterns, and oxygenation levels.
• Treatment Administration: Administer respiratory therapies such as oxygen, aerosolized treatments, and mechanical ventilation, according to established protocols and patient needs. Adjust ventilator settings and manage endotracheal tubes or tracheostomy tubes as needed for patients requiring care.
• Diagnostic Testing: Conduct and interpret diagnostic tests such as arterial blood gases (ABGs), pulmonary function tests (PFTs), as ordered by the provider to assist in the diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Emergency Care: Provide prompt and effective response to respiratory emergencies, including advanced airway management and emergency resuscitation. Assist with intubation and extubation procedures as needed.
• Patient Education: Educate patients and families about respiratory care techniques, disease management, and care plans.
• Collaboration: Collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive and coordinated patient care.
• Documentation: Maintain accurate and thorough documentation of patient assessments, treatments, and outcomes in electronic health records in a timely manner.
• Equipment Maintenance: Ensure the proper functioning and maintenance of respiratory care equipment and supplies.
• Quality Assurance and Compliance: Ensure compliance with hospital protocols, safety standards, and regulatory requirements. Participate in quality improvement initiatives and continuing education to enhance respiratory care practices
• Flexibility: Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure

Non-essential Duties

• Participate in departmental meetings and contribute to quality improvement initiatives.
• Support the maintenance and troubleshooting of respiratory equipment
• Assist with training and mentoring new staff and respiratory therapy students.
• Engage in professional development activities and stay current with advancements in respiratory care.

Required Experience

• A graduate of an AMA-approved Respiratory Therapist program

Preferred Experience

• Experience in Respiratory Preferred
• Demonstrated experience with advanced respiratory support and critical care procedures.

Required Licensure/Education

• Current Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license in the state of Illinois.
• Certification by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) / Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT).
• BLS required
• NRP, ACLS, and PALS required within 6 months of hire

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements:

Exposure to:

• Chemicals: Refer to MSDS sheets
• Video Display Terminals: Average
• Blood and Body Fluids: Occasional contact with intravenous devices, and high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids (blood, stool, vomitus). Use of needleless IV system, universal precautions and protective equipment minimize risk.
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: None other than normal hospital environment exposure.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

• Speech: Required to communicate with patient/families/staff/MDs. Ability to ask for help.
• Vision: Required to observe patients and their physical assessment, ability to read reports, ability to read machines.
• Smell: Helpful to note the presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety.
• Hearing: Necessary to hear alarms, calls for help and to hear patient verbalizations; ability to listen for lung, bowel, and heart sounds.
• Touch: Necessary to assess patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 10%
• Twist: 4%
• Stand: 40%
• Crawl: 0%
• Walk: 25%
• Kneel: 1%
• Lift: 10%
• Drive: 0%
• Squat: 1%
• Climb: 1%
• Bend: 30%
• Reach above shoulders: 3%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

• Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 20 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 35 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 75 lbs: Not Required
• Up to 100 lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements:

Lifting of patients off their beds that are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Horizontal movement of patients to and from carts/beds who are unable to move independently is done with assistive lifting equipment. Lifting equipment - carry 25'- 150' waist high (IV bags, patient trays). Carry charts 25'- 150' waist high. Filled laundry bags are filled half full so as not to weigh over 35 lbs. Carry fire extinguishers up or down 3-4 flights of stairs and several yards in an emergency.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

• Sit: 30
• Twist: 15
• Stand: 60
• Crawl: 0
• Walk: 10
• Kneel: 0
• Lift: 5
• Drive: 0
• Squat: 2
• Climb: 1
• Bend: 15
• Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated): 

• Simple grasp up to 10 lbs. 
• Normal weight:< 5#
• Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs: Occasionally
• Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, omnicell, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IVs.
• Leg Strength - Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally 

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.

Environmental Factors and Special Hazards

• Environmental Factors (Time Spent):
• Inside hours: 6-40
• Outside hours: 0
• Temperature: Normal Range
• Lighting: Average
• Noise levels: Average
• Humidity: Normal Range
• Atmosphere: Average
• Special Hazards: Radiation, Chemical, Explosive - Chemical-drugs; Explosive-oxygen; Radiation-cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy.
• Protective Clothing Required: As required for chemotherapy or in cases of isolation, i.e. gloves, gowns, masks, goggles.