Non-exepmt, PRN position

General Summary:

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment. Ability to work a flexible schedule as PRN positions are utilized only to fill in gaps in the department schedule such as vacation, leave of absence, illness, etc.

Essential Functions:

• Cooperation
  • Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
• Concern for Others
  • Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
  • Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.
• Attention to Detail
  • Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
  • Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
  • Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
• Dependability
  • Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
  • Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
  • Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
  • Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
  • Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
  • Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
  • Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
  • Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate
  • patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
  • Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
• Independence
  • Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
• Compliance
  • Promotes and adheres to the provisions of the compliance program.
  • Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the facility.
  • Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
  • Promotes and adheres to the TVHS core values and Standards of Behavior.

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Certified or Registered by the NBRC
• 1 year experience preferred

Regulatory Requirements:

• Current Respiratory Care Practitioner licensure in the State of Nebraska
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) validation required
• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) validation required
• Current Neonatal Resuscitation Provider (NRP) validation required
• Annual PAPR education
• Current State of Nebraska Driver’s License