A registered respiratory therapist will provide basic respiratory therapy, diagnostics and monitoring to patients of all ages.

Essential Functions and Job Duties

• Performs assessment (chest auscultation, need for therapy, ABG results) on assigned patients as ordered by a physician; demonstrates accurate assessment skills in relation to age of patient.

• Establishes priorities and plan of care based on assessment.

• Provides care according to respiratory standards of practice.

• Documents tolerance to treatments and patient variances; revises plan of care to achieve optimal patient outcomes.

• Completes all annual educational requirements; demonstrates competency in respiratory areas, including assessment, 02 administration, patient ventilators, treatment, medications, etc.

• Documents care; completes CQI projects.

• Participates in continuing education and development of department staff by providing inservices and acting as a resource to staff in a specific specialty area of respiratory care (i.e. ventilator management)

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. 

 Must demonstrate competencies in assigned responsibilities.  Must be able to communicate verbally and in writing.

Education and/or Other Requirements

Successful completion of an AMA accredited respiratory therapy program. Current registration or eligibility for licensure with the State of Illinois for practice as a Respiratory Care Practitioner.   RRT credential awarded by the NBRC.  Current CPR card.

Environmental Factors

Job duties involve the potential for frequent exposure to blood and body fluids.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Must be able to walk, stand, stoop, kneel and assist in lifting patients; able to assist patients and/or adjust equipment at floor level; able to reach, change and read IV’s 5 feet from the floor unaided; able to move quickly from place to place on occasion, including from floor to floor in emergency situations; able to utilize fine motor control in hands for tasks such as medication preparation and administration; able to hear to take blood pressure and to hear breath, heart and bowel sounds. Must possess visual acuity to meet visual demands in charting and operating equipment.  Is expected to be an example of good health habits.

Mental Demands

• Must be able to work under stress and to adapt to changing conditions.

• Ability to adhere to strict confidentiality requirements.

General Skill Requirements

In addition to the Essential Functions and Qualifications listed above, to perform the job successfully an individual must also possess the following General Skill Requirements.

• Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Accepts criticism and feedback; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; ability to work with frustrating situations; work under pressure and on an irregular schedule such as unscheduled overtime, unanticipated changes in work pace; Works with numerous distractions.
• Attendance and Punctuality – Schedules time off in advance; Begins working on time; Keeps absences within guidelines; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
• Communications – Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; Expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; Exhibits good listening and comprehension; Keeps others adequately informed; Selects and uses appropriate communication methods.
• Cooperation – Establishes and maintains effective relations; Exhibits tact and consideration; Displays positive outlook and pleasant manner; Offers assistance and support to co-workers; Works cooperatively in group situations; Works actively to resolve conflicts.
• Job Knowledge – Competent in required job skills and knowledge; Exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills; Keeps abreast of current developments; Requires minimal supervision; Displays understanding of how job relates to others; Uses resources effectively.
• Judgment – displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions; ability to work with and maintain confidential information.
• Problem solving – Identifies problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Resolves problems in early stages; Works well in group problem solving situations.
• Quality – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Displays commitment to excellence; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.
• Quantity – Meets productivity standards; Completes work in timely manner; Strives to increase productivity; Works quickly; Achieves established goals.
• Concentration – Maintains attention to detail over extended period of time; continually aware of variations in changing situations.
• Supervision – ability to perform work independently or with minimal supervision; ability to assign and/or review work; train and/or evaluate other employees.