Respiratory Therapist Senior:
This position is responsible for evaluating and treating patients with breathing disorders. Applies advanced knowledge of job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience and works independently with limited supervision. Responsibilities may include: managing projects and processes as assigned, coaching, reviewing and functional supervision of the work of lower level professionals including respiratory therapy technicians. In addition to all duties and responsibilities of the Respiratory Therapist, the Respiratory Therapist Senior position is also responsible for performing select advanced procedures reserved for practitioners that have demonstrated or attained a higher level of clinical achievement, experience and expertise as outlined below. As an active member of the care team and department, the position contributes to and participates in the provision and monitoring of clinical services, implementation of policies and procedures and the promotion of patient safety.
Essential
- Completes training and demonstrates job competency, age-specific or otherwise, in all basic and advanced Respiratory Care techniques or procedures, including but not limited to; emergency response procedures, medical gas and aerosol administration, airway management and bronchial hygiene procedures, mechanical ventilation, patient assessment, monitoring and testing, patient transport, infection control and patient, family, visitor or staff education.
- Initiates, maintains and weans patients from continuous ventilator support devices. This includes making appropriate ventilator changes based on patient condition, care plans and protocols.
- Commits and maintains patients to CPAP/BiPAP devices.
- Receives and transcribes verbal orders in the patients health record.
- Participates in rounds with the primary provider and care team, and department leaders of the patients under their responsibility, including consulting with providers in developing care plans.
- Evaluates the need for therapy in general and intensive care patients, and makes changes to improve care.
- Serves as an educational and consult resource to students, respiratory care technicians, medical and nursing staff in respiratory care techniques and practices.
- Initiates and interprets other complex respiratory care procedures such as:
- High Frequency Ventilation
- Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation
- Hemodynamic Monitoring
- Arterial punctures
- Bronchoscopy
- Pulmonary function studies
- Analysis of blood gases and electrolytes
- Patient education
- Others as designated
- Participates as an active member on the Cardiac Arrest and Rapid Response Teams.
- Acts as a preceptor assisting in the orientation of new employees and training of students when designated.
- Ensures accountability and assumes responsibility for learning new technical devices and clinical procedures.
- Reports patient safety incidents and concerns, and communicates pertinent patient and unit information to the oncoming shift and/or shift supervisor.
- Attends and participates in case presentations, shift and general staff meetings.
- Accurately charts care provided to patients according to institutional and department policy in the patients health record.
- Ensures functional knowledge and adheres to all department and Michigan Medicine/UMHS policies.
- Performs other job related duties as assigned, such as but not limited to Quality Assurance, data collection and other chart review functions.
- Provides patient and family education.
- Completes training and demonstrates proficiency in all competencies, age-specific or otherwise, that are required of practitioners who are delivering patient services.
- Communicates pertinent observations of patient and unit status to the shift supervisor.
- Completes continuing education units or professional development credits annually, including department and Michigan Medicine/UMHS mandatory competencies within required timeframes or as specified by the departments continuing education program.
- This position will achieve/demonstrate mastery in and be required to support services including, but not limited to:
- Performing artificial airway bio-film clearance. (UH/CVC)
- Placement support and management of esophageal pressure monitoring (PES).
- Efficient in the knowledge and use of infrequently used ventilation devices.
- PA/CCO insertion assistance, waveform analysis. (UH/CVC)
- Transcutaneous monitoring use including download/reports.
- Act as a preceptor for new employees and students.
- Perform in-servicing and training to respiratory care, medical and nursing staff.
- Administer and manage invasive, non-conventional therapies such as HFOV.
- Support the introduction of new services and technologies.
- Administer/act as knowledge resource for specialty gas administration (HeOx via mechanical ventilation and nitric oxide via face mask).
- Administer/act as a knowledge resource for specialty medication administration (Ribavirin, prostacyclin).
- Other advanced clinical duties as assigned.
- Supervise the initiation and maintenance of basic and complex respiratory care services in specialized areas when acting as charge therapist.
- Participation in the interview process of prospective employees.
- Orientation of new employees involving didactic lectures, demonstration and instruction.
- Orientation of staff to new equipment, procedures and unit practices, including staff competency assessment and check-off.
- Participation in departmental and hospital CPR instruction.
- Provide direct instruction and supervision for Respiratory Care students during clinical rotations.
- Designated individuals participate in external transport of patients. Responsibility for these duties are assigned to a limited number of staff as determined collaboratively by CW
Respiratory Care and Survival Flight. (CW)
- Provide cross-coverage support for patients receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). Responsibility for these duties are assigned to a limited number of staff as determined collaboratively by CW Respiratory Care and the ECMO Department. (CW)
- Contributes to a positive and inclusive work community by building trusting partnerships with colleagues, continually learning, creating impactful experiences, and working with a sense of ownership for outcomes. Exhibits a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in daily work activities. Continuously interacts with respect, dignity, and in a manner where individuals feel their perspectives are welcomed. Consistently exhibits active listening skills, values feedback, and a commitment to learning from the perspectives of others.
Patient and Family Centered Care
- Maintains a patient-centric care perspective, including:
- Actively engaging and building rapport and trust with the patient and family, as applicable, exhibiting respect and dignity, sharing information in a timely and unbiased manner, and creating a welcoming environment that encourages open participation by patients and family members to achieve shared decision making.
- Collaborates with other members of the team, including the patient and family, to achieve the ideal patient care experience.
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Respiratory Therapist Inter:
Job duties include but at not limited to:
- Completes training and demonstrates proficiency in all competencies, age-specific or otherwise, that are required of practitioners who are delivering patient services.
- Initiates, maintains and weans patients from continuous mechanical ventilatory support devices which includes discussions with providers for making appropriate ventilator changes based on patient condition and protocols.
- Commits and maintains patients to BiPAP/CPAP therapy.
- Evaluates the need for therapy in general and intensive care patients, and pursues changes to improve care which includes participating in rounds with the primary physician services of the patients they are assigned, and transcribes verbal orders from privileged providers in the patient's medical record.
- Instructs and precepts respiratory care technicians, students, medical and nursing staff in respiratory care techniques and assists in the mentorship of new employees if so designated.
- Initiates and interprets other complex respiratory care procedures, such as, hemodynamic monitoring non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, arterial punctures, bronchoscopy, analysis of blood gases and electrolytes, patient education and others as designated.
- Is responsible for learning new technical devices and clinical procedures and accurately charting patient care per policy in the electronic health record.
- Actively participates in patient hand-off report to fellow staff and department leadership and attends/participates in case presentations, shift and general staff meetings when necessary.
- Actively participates as a member of hospital cardiac arrest and Rapid Response Teams.
- Performs other job-related duties within the Departments scope of practice as assigned. These include such things as QA, data collection and other chart review functions.