Registered respiratory therapist II

Job Description Summary

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Job Description

RT 2

The Respiratory Therapist 2 reports to the RTSL and Adult Respiratory Manager. The RT2 provides a variety of respiratory therapy modalities to adolescent and adult patients with cardio-pulmonary dysfunction, including but not limited to mechanical ventilation, respiratory treatments, and oxygen and specialty gases. The RT2 possesses extensive patient assessment skills and performs at a high level in emergency situations.

Assists in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with pulmonary disorders. Collects and analyzes sputum, blood, and breath specimens to determine levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and other gases. Also measures the lung capacity of a patient to determine if there is impaired function. Administers treatment prescribed by a physician for the care of patients with abnormalities associated with the process of breathing. Assumes primary responsibility for respiratory care treatments, including oversight of respiratory therapy technicians.

Minimum Training and Education: Graduation from a program approved by CoArc (Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care) or a successor accrediting authority.

Required Licensure, Certifications, Registrations: Licensed as a respiratory care practitioner by the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations Board of Medical Examiners. Credentialed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Current Basic Life Support (BLS) required, either a certification from an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS for Healthcare Providers (or AHA recognized equivalent) or an American Red Cross CPR/AED for Professional Rescuer and Healthcare Provider.

Physical Requirements:

1) (C) Continuous – 6-8 hours per shift; 2) (F) Frequent – 2-6 hours per shift; 3) (I) Infrequent– 0-2 hours per shift Ability to perform job functions while standing. (C) Ability to perform job functions while sitting. (C) Ability to perform job functions while walking. (F) Ability to climb stairs. (I) Ability to work indoors. (C) Ability to work outside in temperature extremes. (I) Ability to work from elevated areas. (F) Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces. (F) Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions. (I) Ability to bend at the waist. (F) Ability to twist at the waist. (F) Ability to squat and perform job functions. (F) Ability to perform “pinching” operations. (F) Ability to fully use both hands/arms. (C) Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders. (C) Ability to fully use both legs. (C) Ability to reach in all directions. (C) Possess good finger dexterity. (C) Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions. (C) Ability to maintain good olfactory sensory function. (C) Ability to lift and carry 50 lbs. unassisted. (I) Ability to lift/lower objects 50 lbs. from/to thirty-six inches unassisted. (I) Ability to lift from thirty-six” to overhead 25 lbs. (I) Ability to exert up to 50lbs. of force. (F) Ability to maintain vision 20/40 corrected. (C) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance. (C) Ability to match or discriminate between colors. (C) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (C) Good peripheral vision capabilities. (C) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (C) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (C) Ability to deal effectively with stressful situations. (C) Ability to work rotating shifts. (F) Ability to work overtime as required. (F) Ability to learn and use new processes, tools and equipment as required. (F) Ability to work in a latex safe environment. (C) Ability to be qualified physically (by medical personnel) for respirator use, initially and as required.

Job Responsibilities RT2

40%

• Patient assessment/provision of therapy and patient education
  
  Provide a full respiratory assessment on patients and manage the initiation and application of therapeutic and modality practices. Ability to suggest appropriate treatment strategies based on patient assessment and disease state. The provision of treatments, the delivery and weaning of oxygen therapy, and the performance of patient/family/staff education. 

MENTOR Criteria (May not meet all areas, but must show a strong pattern of independent involvement):

1. Meets Consistent Criteria; No Inconsistent traits.
2. Extremely knowledgeable in all modalities and therapeutics in all core areas. Able to and actively teaches others.
3. Active in furthering practice through creation or involvement in creation of therapy protocols or other therapy-related practices and protocols (i.e. order sets, guidelines, practice recommendations, etc.).
4. Active or leading therapeutic, modality, or process improvement project.
5. Efficiently prioritizes assessment needs to improve delivery of care.
6. Demonstrates a high level of assessment and communication skills with RT, MD, and Nursing. Communicate with Physician to have unnecessary therapies discontinued.
7. Anticipates patient’s/family needs and offers assistance to enhance patient care.
8. Develops creative approaches to encourage patient/family participation in patients care.
9. Provides emotional, informational and educational support to patient’s/families.
10. Consistently rounds on co-workers throughout shift and offers help when possible.
11. Performs arterial line insertions successfully.

CONSISTENT:

1. Provides a complete respiratory assessment of all patients. Reviews patients' medical records. Provides quality report to the oncoming shift of patients' respiratory status and progress. Participates in daily rounds, multi-disciplinary patient care conferences or informal patient planning sessions, if applicable. Is able to complete work assignment in a timely manner.
2. Consults with physician, nurses, and respiratory therapists relative to direct practices. Suggest appropriate treatment strategies and therapeutic modifications to obtain optimal results based on patient assessments.
3. Initiates, instructs, and performs all aerosol therapies, broncho-pulmonary hygiene therapies, hyperinflation techniques, suctioning and oxygen therapy.
4. Performs area specific procedures, including patient/family education.
5. Obtains ABG samples from both arterial lines and punctures.
6. Effectively communicates with patient/family regarding the specifics of the patient’s respiratory care plan and goals.
7. Individualize respiratory care plan based on patient assessment and needs
8. Is able to verbalize and share pertinent information differently among patients, caregivers, and professionals to assure their understanding
9. Completes all documentation in hospital information systems and medication scanning systems.
10. Maintains patency of all artificial airways.
11. Refers mobile phones and pagers correctly. Hands off covering phones and pages to oncoming shift.

INCONSISTENT Criteria:

a. Does not meet all CONSISTENT Criteria
b. Disciplinary action other than coaching in the past 12 months may be cause for INCONSISTENT rating.

40%

Invasive, Non-Invasive Ventilation and Emergency Management
The initiation, management and discontinuance of mechanical ventilation and related systems. Ventilated patient assessment, care and disease management, and the application of ventilation practice. Responds to emergency situations and manages emergency care. 

Mentor Criteria: (May not meet all areas, but must show a strong pattern of independent involvement)

1. Meets Consistent Criteria; No Inconsistent traits.
2. Extremely knowledgeable in all modes of ventilation in all core areas. Able to and actively teaches others.
3. Expertly and efficiently manages care for the most complex and stable patients.
4. Excellent and proactive performance in promoting VAP bundle and early mobility protocol.
5. Excellent assessment and documentation of skin integrity around ETT and noninvasive mask.
6. Active in furthering practice through creation or involvement in creation of ventilator management protocols or other ventilator-related practices and protocols (i.e. order sets, guidelines, practice recommendations, etc.).
7. Is a resource and able to teach the setup, management, and documentation of specialty gases.
8. Is a resource and able to teach the setup, management, and documentation of inhaled epoprostenol.
9. Responds quickly to all emergencies. Is considered a strong resource during emergencies by other health professionals. Able to act Independently during emergency situations and will provide feedback in situations that require Interventions.
10. Active or leading an invasive or non-invasive ventilation improvement project.

Consistent:

1. Ability to independently initiate, monitor, and maintain all invasive and noninvasive ventilators in all core team areas; skilled in ventilation strategies for different disease states.
2. Possesses the knowledge of and adheres to ventilator weaning protocols, guidelines and delivery of specialty gases such as NO/heliox. Possesses the ability to initiate and monitor specialty gases through the ventilator.
3. Possesses the ability to set up, monitor, and wean inhaled epoprostenol.
4. Always checks CXR for disease states, changes and ETT placement. Checks and understands implications of pertinent labs and hemodynamics; reports CXR, labs and hemodynamics as necessary.
5. Assures orders are correct for vents and modalities prior to the end of shift. Completes all required documentation in EMR system. Assures medications are available for the first rounds of next shift.
6. Responds in a timely manner to emergency situations and acts with a calm and guiding demeanor.

INCONSISTENT Criteria:

a. Does not meet all CONSISTENT Criteria
b. Disciplinary action other than coaching in the past 12 months may be cause for INCONSISTENT rating.

20%

Professional development, training and in-service education, project participation

Assumes personal responsibility for professional development and licensure Shares knowledge and expertise through training, in services and project participation. Maintains knowledge through self-assessment, proactively seeking resources, and being engaged. Takes an active role in department projects, processes, and practices. Presents self professionally with willing and helpful attitude to interdisciplinary team, patients, family, and other staff at all times. Prepares for shift and leaves work area appropriate for oncoming shift 

MENTOR Criteria (May not meet all areas, but must show a strong

pattern of independent involvement):

1. Meets Consistent Criteria; No Inconsistent traits.
2. Actively participates in positive skills mentorship for other staff.
3. Assists in identifying and providing education resources for other interdisciplinary team members.
4. Leads or participates in a department, unit, or core team improvement process
5. Assists in competency development and provision.
6. Actively participates in RT shared governance, Journal Club, provides feedback to RT governance.
7. Active participation in unit-based or hospital-based meeting/committee of choice: Relays information back to department in timely manner for inclusion in Monthly Professional Update.
8. Provides ongoing support for orientee after orientation ends.
9. Uses resources appropriately.
10. Provides constructive peer-to-peer feedback in a professional manner.
11. Oversees the supervision of other staff, orientees, and/or students when they provide patient care, treatment, and services as part of their training.
12. Able to manage workload independently and complete in a timely manner.
13. Additional professional certifications (ex ACCS, Pulmonary educator, six sigma, etc.)

CONSISTENT:

1. Participates in department activities including meeting attendance.
2. Demonstrates a proactive approach to learning new procedures and concepts in respiratory therapy.
3. Possesses critical thinking skills in the clinical setting.
4. Completes all mandatory training and is current on required certification.
5. Participates in the provision of in-services, training, and development opportunities.
6. Actively seeks out continuing education opportunities.
7. Provides bedside teaching/education to coworkers, physicians, nurses and students.
8. All therapists must verify that they have attended or reviewed monthly staff meetings. Verification of less than 80% of the reports at the end of the fiscal year equals an "Inconsistent" in this category.
9. Maintains up to date certifications based on job class requirement (ex ACLS for RT2, RT3 and RTSL). Staff will contact CTC and schedule classes prior to expiration and submit education leave according to hospital policy.

INCONSISTENT Criteria:

a. Does not meet all CONSISTENT Criteria
b. Disciplinary action other than coaching in the past 12 months may be cause for INCONSISTENT rating

Additional Job Description

Education:  AAS in Respiratory Care from an AMA approved School of Respiratory Therapy. 

Licensure/Certification: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners of S.C.

  Work Experience: > or =2 years
Current American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification or American Red Cross BLS for Healthcare Providers certification is required

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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