Job Summary:
Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates respiratory therapy care and life support to patients in all areas of the medical center, including neonatal intensive care who have deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system under the supervision of physician and prescription. Performs other patient comfort duties necessary to maintain the flow of patient care in the unit.
Essential Responsibilities:
- Upholds Kaiser Permanentes Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities and applicable state, federal and local laws.
- QUALITY OF SERVICE:
- Professional Conduct:
- Applies philosophy and demonstrates knowledge of the Patient Bill of Rights. Treats members, coworkers, and individual employees with respect and dignity.
- Maintains the privacy and confidentiality of both members and employees with regard to medical records and communication regarding disease, conditions, and status.
- Greet members promptly and courteously, addresses adult members by their proper title (i.e., Mr., Mrs., Ms.) and last name except when otherwise mutually agreed upon by the provider and patient.
- Telephone Courtesy and Assistance:
- Adheres to regional and department guidelines for courtesy and consideration during telephone use.
- Determines and documents the following information upon taking a phone call: name of patient, phone number where patient can be reached, the reason (nature & urgency) for the call, date and time of the call and name of the person taking the call.
- Gives immediately to the requested provider or designee all messages of an emergency or urgent nature, gives non-urgent messages to the requested provider or designee in a timely manner.
- Demonstrates knowledge, application, competency, and assessment skills for all specific patient/member age categories; neonatal, pediatric, and adult.
- Participates in patient care rounds as an active member of the critical care team. Knows admitting diagnosis and pulmonary pathophysiology for assigned patients, and performs patient assessment and provides appropriate therapy.
- Evaluates and can state data obtained from respiratory monitoring devices on assigned patients.
- Evaluates patients response to all respiratory care provided and appropriately documents required information as outlined in department policies and procedures.
- Determines appropriateness and provides recommendations for respiratory care services, taking into consideration the needs of different age groups, cognitive abilities, and development status.
- Initiates new routine orders within time specified in department policies and procedures. Measures and adjusts airway cuff pressures. Recommends changes in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to physicians, nursing, and/or co-workers. Taking into consideration patient age and development status modifies those treatments/procedure techniques, which do not require a change in physicians orders to optimize the delivery of care, and reports modifications to appropriate health care team members.
- Utilizes appropriate chain-of-command when consulting on patients not responding to standard therapeutic procedures.
- Performs respiratory diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
- Verbalizes mechanisms of action, dosage, contraindications, and adverse reactions for all medications upon request.
- Obtains approval prior to administering any medications, which is not included on the approved medication list. Stores unused, doses of medications in the department medication cabinet or refrigerator as indicated by the medication instructions.
- Provides ventilatory support during patient inter-intra hospital transfers. May be part of a high functioning Pediatric and Neonatal transport team as applicable.
- Performs procedures for disinfecting and sterilization and adheres to infection control policies and procedures.
- Washes hands before and after physical contact with the patient and after using the restroom as described in handwashing procedure. Adheres to isolation procedure as indicated.
- Practices Universal Precautions at all times.
- Performs and evaluates blood gas analysis to include quality control procedures adhering to laboratory policies and procedures.
- Assures that quality control of equipment is performed and at acceptable levels.
- Obtains arterial blood samples.
- Ensures that blood samples and requisition slips have required information.
- Handles and disposes of blood samples per policy and procedure. Performs blood gas analysis.
- Documents and reports critical blood gas values to nurse/physician.
- Performs analyzer maintenance and quality controls as qualified, and ensures cleanliness of the blood gas laboratory.
- Performs cardiopulmonary and neonatal resuscitation (CPR/NR) and responds to emergencies in all areas.
- Auscultates lungs to assure proper endotracheal tube placement. Identifies primary affected lobes and positions patient to optimize treatment while ensuring safety, prior to initiating chest physiotherapy.
- Identifies contraindications in regards to chest physiotherapy and appropriately informs and provides recommendations to the physician.
- Performs oral, nasal, and tracheal suctioning to ensure airway patency.
- Collaborates with the physician and nursing in regards to the appropriate frequency of suctioning for assigned patients.
- Provides reasonable solutions upon the identification of problems.
- Participates in-group action problem solving processes.
- Complies with patient safety practices/policies; takes appropriate safety measures considering patients age and developmental status.
- Provides timely, accurate, legible record keeping and data entries per departmental policy and procedure.
- Enters required information into the Respiratory Cares department system for recording statistical data related to procedures performed, workload and staffing.
- Assumes responsibility for all required Respiratory Care documentation on all assigned patients.
- Effectively utilizes equipment and supplies.
- Demonstrates the ability to setup, operate, troubleshoot, and perform corrective action based upon department policies and procedures and manufacturers recommendations.
- Utilizes appropriate procedures in reporting malfunctioning or suspect equipment and supplies. Determines whether equipment malfunction is life threatening versus non-life threatening and responds appropriately.
- Assumes responsibility and ensures patient safety during any equipment failure. Maintains inventory level of respiratory care equipment and supplies as assigned.
- Maintains department productivity standards. Reports inability to complete procedures seeks assistance if patient care is compromised.
- Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability by accepting new ideas and supporting changes in the department and hospital/clinic.
- Functions independently with minimum direction.
- Utilizes effective listening, verbal, nonverbal and writing skills formally and informally.
- Utilizes the chain-of-command in the event of a difficult situation or decision. Immediately reports critical values to appropriate team members.
- Interacts professionally when discussing patient care plans/recommendations with health care team members.
- Participates in training and orientation of new employees as required.
- Participates in and provides patient education, within the department and medical enter. Attends department continuing education, meetings as required.
- Functions at Independent Level in Adult Critical Care areas. Demonstrates ability to assess for implementation or discontinuance of mechanical ventilation.
- Demonstrates ability to implement all modalities of ventilation approved for use in the medical center.
- Demonstrates ability to adjust ventilator parameters in response to changes in acid-base balance and oxygenation.
- Demonstrates ability to effectively wean from mechanical ventilator per medical center protocols.
- Functions at Independent Level in Neonatal Critical Care areas.
- Documents therapy and intervention in medical record per medical center policy and procedure.
Basic Qualifications:
Experience
- One (1) year of recent NICU experience within the past 12 months.
Education
- Graduate of an approved 2 year Respiratory Care program accredited by the Respiratory Care Accrediting Board (RCAB) or Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
License, Certification, Registration
- Respiratory Care Practitioner License (California) from National Board of Respiratory Care
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program
- Registered Respiratory Therapist Certificate
- Basic Life Support
Additional Requirements:
- Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) or Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) is required for any Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) working in the Pulmonary Function Laboratory (PFT).
- Functions at independent level in all areas of Medical/Surgical, Adult and Pediatric Intensive Care areas and Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU).
- Experience requirements may be waived or modified when an appropriate program or course is available and successfully completed for area of specialization.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification (PALS), Sugar & Safe Care-Temperature-Airway-Blood Pressure- Lab Work-Emotional Support. (S.T.A.B.L.E. Certification).
- Two (2) years recent experience in the Neonatal intensive Care Unit in the past 24 months.
Notes:
- May be filled by Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) II/Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) III
- Back up 8-hour shift 10:30pm - 7:00am
- This is an on call position, days and hours may vary.
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