Respiratory Therapist - Respiratory Therapy - Nights

Position Function: Under the supervision of the Manager of Respiratory Care Services, administers various types of respiratory treatments to patients, assists with assessing and evaluating respiratory care to patients and assists with the development and evaluation of respiratory care services. Contributes to the Respiratory Care Service, Hospital, and American Association of Respiratory Therapy through support of objectives, educational and research efforts. The RRT is responsible to recognize and treat physical changes unique to the age group he/she serves.

Assesses respiratory and cardiac-ill patients (both routine and emergency) upon admission, throughout hospitalization and at the time of discharge so as to provide adequate care.

Plans and directs patient care (both routine and emergency) by assuming responsibility as well as accountability for the development, review and implementation of the respiratory care plan.

Identifies and implements appropriate respiratory care activities, observations and actions in order to achieve expected outcomes/goals.

Directs and mentors others among whom respiratory interventions are delegated.

Evaluates patient respiratory progress toward achievement of expected outcomes/goals.

** All of the above must be accomplished in a safe and efficient manner within Respiratory Care Services scope of practice and Hospital policy.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Unit Based Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Core Values: Service, Integrity, Compassion
1. Demonstrates service excellence and patient and family centered care by showing respect, honesty, fairness and a positive attitude toward all customers.
2. Maintains confidentiality.
3. Demonstrates dependability, to include attendance and punctuality.
4. Is accountable - takes initiative and ownership of issues.
5. Displays a professional demeanor. Represents hospital in a positive way. Has a compassionate working relationship with patients and families.
6. Assumes personal responsibility for 2-way communication. Communicates and listens effectively with patients, families, coworkers, other departments, physicians/providers and community.
7. Supports coworkers, initiatives and a patient and family centered philosophy; pitches in; does own part and helps others.
8. Works to continuously improve work environment/processes (Performance Improvement). Demonstrates a patient and family centered focus when considering/developing improvement solutions.
9. Represents willingness/enthusiasm to create, embrace and facilitate change.
10. Develops self and others; supports a learning environment; leads by example. Encourages patients and families to give feedback and suggestions for improvement.
11. Develops working relationships critical to the organization including patients, families, coworkers, other departments, physicians/providers and community.
12. Encourages others by providing recognition and support.

Technical Excellence
1. Thinks critically; utilizes sound judgment; promptly reports potential risks.
2. Maintains state of art knowledge of area of specialty, healthcare trends and practice, and populations served.
3. Maintains a level of computer literacy appropriate to their role.
4. Meets and maintains current all unit specific and organizational skills/competencies, certifications/licensures, as required.
5. Completes hospital-required reviews, e.g. HIPAA, safety, health screening, care concerns, and others as assigned.
6. Adheres to National Patient Safety Goals.

Job Class Specifics
1. Creates and updates policies and/or procedures.
2. Provides care by approved protocols and guidelines when applicable.
3. Provides non-concurrent therapy.
4. Provides education appropriate to disease and level of patient/caregiver understanding.
5. Demonstrates continuing education beyond licensure requirements.
6. Demonstrates competence in one or more of the specialty areas.
7. Completes special projects and research tasks as assigned or approved through immediate supervisor within established time frame.
8. Demonstrates the ability to prioritize workload so that important deadlines are met.
9. Assesses, plan, prepares and provides in-service education and training for physicians, respiratory and nursing staff.
10. Assists in the development and implementation of new programs.
11. Responds appropriately to emergency situation.
12. Demonstrates involvement in unit by attending 50% of staff/committee meetings and in-services for area.
13. Maintains all equipment in a state of readiness, completes daily rounds for inspection and/or calibration of emergency equipment.
14. Demonstrates effective problem-solving skills related to patient status.
15. Verifies written orders, accepts and records verbal orders in medical record. Performs chart checks daily.
16. Utilize all existing technologies (i.e. e-mar barcoding) to safely administer medications.
17. Utilizes proper body mechanics to prevent injury to self or others.

General Requirements

The following requirements are expected of all employees:
Core Values: Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, Service
Annual Health Screening with Infection Control and Blood Borne Pathogens Education
Safety Awareness: Hospital Fire, Safety, and Disaster procedures
Confidentiality: Maintains employee and patient confidentiality.
Attendance: Regular attendance is an essential function of the position
Leadership Standards:
Character: Attitude, Integrity, Role Modeling
Job Performance: Results orientation, Customer focus, Decision making, Awareness
Interpersonal Skills: Communication, Relationship-building, Team player, Celebration
Innovation: Breakthrough Thinking, Knowledge-Building/Sharing, Coaching/Empowering, System Vision & Management

Physical and Mental Requirements: Classified as medium work by the Dictionary of Occupational Titles: May exert 20-50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or 10 to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or greater than negligible (up to 10 pounds) of force constantly in order to move objects.
- Stands or walks throughout hospital frequently.
- Sits occasionally on a hard or cushioned chair.
- Occasionally lifts up to 40 pounds from floor to waist level.
- Pushes/pulls up to 125 pounds from floor to floor on an occasional basis.
- Occasional bending, squatting, twisting and kneeling during normal shift.
- Reaches to heights of up to 2 feet overhead frequently.
- Ability to move rapidly in response to unpredictable emergencies that could happen one or more times per shift.
- Near visual acuity with color perception in order to view computer screen, decipher fine print and detect changes in patient's skin color and colors of medications and solutions.
- Auditory acuity sufficient to hear phone conversations, overhead pages, alarms and call bells (i.e. respiratory, oximeter, fire alarm), heart and lung sounds (differentiating the quality of each), normal voice tones when not facing the individual, and able to hear as well as see blood pressure readings with accuracy.
- Ability to occasionally operate hand and foot controls on beds and wheelchairs.
- Manual dexterity, digital sensitivity and flexibility (i.e. ability to program equipment, draw blood, check pulses and temperatures of patients, adjust flow rates, open medications and utilize a keyboard).
- Good hand/eye coordination.
Mental Demands - Possesses good general mental health; ability to work under pressure; ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal form; must establish priorities among the essential functions of the job and coordinate these functions with others; able to speak, read and write the English language.

Working Environment: (Conditions that a person in this position is subject to during a normal work day.) Work is performed in a well-ventilated clinical environment. Possible exposure to patients with infectious diseases or to bodily fluids, which may contain infectious agents.

Reporting Structure: Formal Reporting and Chain of Command - Reports to the Manager of Respiratory Care Services. May receive technical direction from the Medical Director for Respiratory Services.
Informal Reporting and Relationships - Establishes and maintains harmonious, productive relationships within the department, with other departments, medical staff, patients and with the public.

Disclaimer: These essential job functions are requirements of the position which must be performed either with or without reasonable accommodation. The essential job function list is intended to be a guide rather than a limitation. The Chambersburg Hospital possesses the right to add new responsibilities to the list as business demands dictate. Some of the essential job functions may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat/significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or others.

By identifying essential job functions, we are in no way stating or implying that these required tasks are the only activities that are to be performed by the employee occupying this position. In addition, employees will also be expected to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties that are included in the job description. The preceding requirements represent only the minimum acceptable levels of knowledge, skills, and/or abilities that a job incumbent must possess; in order to perform the job successfully, the incumbent will possess additional aptitudes so as to perform the other duties that the job description entails.

Qualifications and Standards

Education:
Formal Education and Training: Baccalaureate degree from an AMA-accredited Respiratory Therapist Program or satisfies the educational requirements for a registered therapist as established by The National Board for Respiratory Care or Pennsylvania Medical Board. Informal or Continuing Education: As appropriate.

Experience: Experience applying customer service behaviors and communication skills required. Previous acute care respiratory experience preferred.

Certifications/Licensure: Credentialed as a Registered Respiratory Therapist by the National Board for Respiratory Care and licensed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner by the Pennsylvania Medical Board required. Current CPR certification required. NRP required; credential must be obtained within six (6) months of hire date. ACLS preferred.