Job Classification: Non-Exempt

Reporting Relationship: Reports to Director of Respiratory Care/Sleep Lab

Primary Accountability:

The Respiratory Therapist assumes primary responsibility for all provider-ordered respiratory care modalities by initiating and conducting therapeutic and diagnostic procedures within their scope of practice. Respiratory care includes observing, assessing, and monitoring signs, symptoms, reactions, general behavior, and general physical response of individuals to respiratory care.

Major Duties:

• Maintains knowledge of the various methods of oxygen delivery, including the necessary equipment.
• Administers respiratory therapy treatments, understands the purpose of each and the possible side effects associated with each.
• Documents all patient data on the patient’s medical record following completion of any service.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the differences in techniques and treatment modalities as performed on patients of varying ages, including neonate, pediatric, adolescent and geriatric patients as well as the general patient population.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of oxygen and medication doses as they relate to patients of varying ages, including neonate, pediatric, adolescent and geriatric patients.
• Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/healthcare errors.
• Places new and changed orders in the computer. 
• Charges for procedures.
• Documents the procedure and medications given.
• Instructs patients and family on the therapeutic procedures and/or exercises.
• Understands and carries out infection control policies.
• May oversee Respiratory Students.
• Manages time and priorities effectively.
• Strives to increase personal and departmental productivity by identifying and implementing new work procedures.
• Verifies provider’s orders.
• Clarifies all unclear orders with ordering provider.
• Checks off yearly for all modalities in respiratory care.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding in pulmonary function testing (PFT), pulmonary rehabilitation, electroencephalogram (EEG), ventilators, and BiPAP.

Qualifications:

• Current Kansas Registered Respiratory Therapist Licensure
• Graduate of an AMA-approved School of Respiratory Therapy
• Must have current BLS certification or obtain within sixty (60) days of employment
• Must have current ACLS and NRP certification or obtain within six (6) months of employment

Physical Demands:

• Eye/Hand, Eye/Foot, Hand/Foot Coordination.
• Normal eyesight, with or without corrective lenses.
• Normal hearing, with or without hearing aids.
• Motor coordination and manual dexterity.  
• The ability to bend, stoop, crawl, and kneel.
• The ability to exert 20 to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 25 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible up to 10 pounds of force constantly. 

Work Environment:

• Well-lit work area.
• Subject to long irregular hours.
• May be exposed to infections, contagious, and blood borne diseases. 
• Exposed to offensive odors or hazards of explosive gases. 
• Exposure to unpleasant elements such as accidents, illnesses, and injuries. 
• Works under emergency situations.
• Average amount of sitting, standing, and walking throughout the day/night. 
• Meet and talk with a wide variety of employees, visitors and patients.  

Additional Duties:

Additional duties and responsibilities may be added to this job description at any time. The job description does not state or imply that these are the only activities to be performed by the employee holding this position. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related responsibilities as requested by their Supervisor or assigned charge personnel.