Respiratory Care Practitioner-NICU

*Hiring Incentive: $10,000

Primary Purpose:
Responsible for providing full respiratory care to patients within neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations, as prescribed by physician, and within established standards and practices.

Minimum Specifications

Education

• Must be a graduate of a Respiratory Care Program from an accredited American Medical Association (AMA) program.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Care preferred.

Experience

• None

Equivalent Education and/or Experience

• None

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must have a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license from the Texas Medical Board.
• Must be a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) through the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC).
• Must have a current Healthcare Provider CPR course completion card prior to hire and/or placement in job from one of the following:
• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross Rescuer
• Military Training Network
• Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) preferred.

Required Tests for Placement

• None.

Skills or Special Abilities

• Must successfully complete General Care orientation.
• Must successfully complete adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) orientation to work in adult ICU areas.
• Must successfully complete Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) orientation to work in NICU area.
• Must be able to demonstrate assessment skills for prioritization of care, the application of patient driven protocols, and the delivery of respiratory care in neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations.
• Must be proficient in the use of all equipment required for the delivery of Respiratory Care bedside therapeutic and diagnostic services.
• Must be able to serve as a preceptor to new orientees, students, and interns.
• Must be able to document activities accurately in the electronic medical record.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors.
• Must maintain required departmental competencies.
• May be asked to assume Charge responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates need for service delivery by incorporating established protocols, physical assessment, physician interaction, patient history, and clinical judgement into the decision process.

• Provides type and frequency of service that is consistent with patient need.

• Applies understanding of cardio-respiratory anatomy and physiology to respiratory care practices.

• Utilizes data and laboratory findings in conjunction with knowledge of specific disease/injury/process data to optimize care delivery.

• Maintains and applies knowledge of indications, actions, interactions, and adverse reactions of respiratory active drugs to include those which produce a secondary respiratory effect, in order to provide optimal patient care.

• Performs and documents diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in keeping with departmental standards for quality and service indicators.

• Matches equipment needs with associated diagnostic/therapeutic intervention.

• Demonstrates patient centered/patient valued behaviors.

• Troubleshoots respiratory equipment to ensure appropriate function.

• Removes and labels contaminated or malfunctioning equipment for processing as described in departmental objectives.

• Promptly responds to requests for care.

• Provides timely reports, on transferred patients, to receiving therapist which include priority status and pertinent case related data.

• Gives and receives shift reports to assigned therapist to ensure a clear picture of patient baseline status and care needs.

• Serves as a resource for students, physicians, and other healthcare professionals regarding respiratory care practices.

• May also be responsible for administering pulmonary diagnostic testing and evaluation following the Pulmonary Laboratory related policies and procedures after training and competency evaluation

• . Will be responsible to provide pulmonary rehab program education and virtual exercise classes.