Practitioner, Respiratory Care

Job Summary

To provide therapeutic and diagnostic respiratory care interventions, under physician direction; based upon assessment and communication with other health care professionals to treat cardio-pulmonary and related disorders.

Essential Responsibilities

• CARDIO-PULMONARY RESUSCITATION: Provide basic and advanced cardiac life support interventions including airway management, chest compressions, and diagnostic measurements. Measured by patient survival, physician observation, quality assurance monitoring.

• CRITICAL CARE: Manage neonatal, pediatric and adult life-support equipment by initiating and monitoring equipment function, management of an artificial airway, patient assessment including provision of invasive and non-invasive diagnostic testing; formulating, implementing and assessment of the effectiveness of a patient care plan in collaboration with nursing and medical staff. Measured by patient survival, physician and nursing observation, quality assurance monitoring.

• THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES: Assure respiratory sufficiency by performing ordered respiratory therapeutic interventions. Provide a complete patient assessment and evaluation of effectiveness of therapy. Collaborate with professional health care team in development, implementation and evaluation of patient care plan. Operate all necessary equipment in a safe and effective manner. Educate and motivate patients, encouraging self-management of chronic disorders. Respond appropriately to treat adverse reactions to therapeutic interventions. Maintain necessary medical record documentation. Measured by quality assurance monitors, patient report, nursing and physician monitoring and report, and supervisory evaluations.

• DIAGNOSTIC MONITORING: obtain information on patient status by providing invasive and non-invasive diagnostic monitoring of cardio-pulmonary and metabolic status. Use diagnostic equipment in a safe and effective manner. Evaluate the quality of the date obtained and provide interpretation of collected data to the nursing and medical staff. Integrate results of data collection into the patient treatment plan. Maintain accurate medical record documentation. Seek cost-effective strategies that maintain the quality of the data collection system. Measured by quality control monitoring of data collection, quality assurance monitoring, professional staff reporting.

• EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES: Assure that equipment and supplies are available for patient care by processing equipment for cleaning, sterilization, calibration and set-up. Monitor and document equipment function both during maintenance activities and usage. Report equipment malfunction in a standardized manner and collaborate with department supervisors, bio-medical engineers and technical staff to resolve equipment problems.

• Measured by quality assurance audits, review or equipment maintenance records, department non-labor financial reports, and staff reports.

• HEALTH PROMOTION: Guide and educate patients and families with therapies and strategies that promote the return of the patient to maximum respiratory health. Collaborate with discharge planning and provide outpatient educational interventions as needed. Provide Durable Medical Equipment evaluations and required documentation.

Basic Qualifications:

Experience

• Patient assessment, basic respiratory care procedures and diagnostic techniques, infection control and mechanical ventilation (neonatal, pediatric, and adult). A thorough knowledge of adult mechanical ventilation and arterial blood gas analysis. Basic knowledge of neonatal mechanical ventilation and resuscitation, adult capnography. Current standards in practice of respiratory care and medical record documentation.

• Operate, identify and resolve malfunction of neonatal and adult mechanical ventilators, aerosol generators, oximeters, capnographs, transcutaneous monitors, oxygen delivery devices, pulmonary function devices. Able to draw arterial blood specimens (radial, brachial, and femoral sites). Able to assess patient status utilizing both invasive and non-invasive diagnostic techniques.

Education

• Graduate of an AMA approved Respiratory Care program.

• High school diploma or GED.

License, Certification, Registration

• Respiratory Therapist Certificate OR Registered Respiratory Therapist Certificate from National Board of Respiratory Care

• Respiratory Care Practitioner License (Oregon)

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support required at hire

• Pediatric Advanced Life Support within 2 months of hire

• Basic Life Support required at hire

Additional Requirements:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two (2) years ICU experience.

• Two (2) years experience in patient health education.

• Minimum of one (1) year post graduation experience with basic skills in adult and neonatal ventilator management, all aspects of respiratory care including arterial blood gases and airway management or successful completion of KSMC Respiratory Therapy Internship.

• Thorough knowledge of neonatal and adult ventilator management theory, pulmonary anatomy and physiology, pulmonary pathology, pulmonary assessment.

• Knowledge of gas monitoring including interpretation and monitoring of capnography and metabolic monitoring.

• Patient education.

• Knowledge of Durable Medical Equipment procedures.

• Protocol directed care.

• Tracheostomy changes.

COMPANY: KAISER

TITLE: Practitioner, Respiratory Care

LOCATION: Clackamas, Oregon

REQNUMBER: 1247442

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with Federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran, or disability status.