Respiratory Therapist-Registered

Job Overview

Overview

This is an internal posting for current Respiratory Therapy staff. 

This is a Weekend Package position. Work hours will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 6:00 pm - 6:00 am, for 72 hours per pay period, and as needed. You will work 4 consecutive weekends in a row with every 5th weekend off. This position is eligible for WEP differential. 

Under the supervision of the medical director, the Respiratory Therapist-Registered is responsible to provide respiratory care services in accordance with physicians’ orders, department policies and procedures, as well as respiratory therapy-driven protocols. The Respiratory Therapist is responsible for providing basic and advanced care services to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients.

Why UnityPoint Health?

• Culture – At UnityPoint Health, you matter. Come for a fulfilling career and experience a culture guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what's right for the people we serve.
• Benefits – Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options like 401K match, paid time off and education assistance that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment – We’re committed to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.
• Development – We believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is an essential part of delivering a remarkable employment experience.
• Community Involvement – Be an essential part of our core purpose—to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.

    Hear more from our team members about why UnityPoint Health is a great place to work at https://dayinthelife.unitypoint.org.

Qualifications

Responsibilities

Clinical Excellence/Patient Care

• Assesses and evaluates the respiratory status of neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients.
• Determines requirements for treatment, such as type, method, and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, and medication and dosages, compatible with physicians’ orders.
• Initiates, conducts, and modifies prescribed therapeutic and diagnostic procedures per established protocols.
• Monitors patient’s physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes, and consults with physician if adverse reaction occurs.
• Applies and monitors medical gases and related respiratory therapy modalities.
• Develops the respiratory care plan based on the assessment of the patient.
• Responds to Code Blue/Pink, Trauma, Rapid Response Team or other urgent calls for patient care.
• Provides emergency care, including artificial respiration, external cardiac massage and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Sets up and operates devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment. Manages ventilators and artificial airway devices.
• Reviews patient information to assess patient condition.

Leadership/Collaboration

• Works collaboratively with the team of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to manage patient care.
• Enforces safety rules and ensures careful adherence to physicians’ orders.
• Deploys clinical quality initiatives in the respiratory therapy service line.
• Uses a variety of research techniques to assist the physician in cardiac and pulmonary best practices.
• Demonstrates respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel.
• Collaborates with community partners for the development and maintenance of community outreach programs.

Development/Education

• Performs pulmonary function testing and adjusts equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
• Educates patients and their families about their conditions and teaches appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of medications and respiratory equipment.
• Explains treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Maintains and updates department policies and procedures per evidence-based practice standards.
• Uses problem solving to identify and correct malfunctions of respiratory care equipment.