Respiratory therapist

Job Details:

Job Location: NCC - Romulus, MI

Salary Range: $36.20 - $39.20

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Respiratory Therapist, as a member of the interdisciplinary care team, provides appropriate, consistent, high quality respiratory services and care in accordance with Special Trees mission, vision, and value statement as well as regulatory and accrediting agencies. Responsible for tracheotomy care, ventilator dependent care, weaning programs, and client and family education related to respiratory matters.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides fabulous every day care, every day to clients and other customers.
• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary team to develop interdisciplinary care plans for clients served by that team.
• Provides evaluation, treatment, monitoring, testing, mechanical ventilation, and education using accepted Respiratory Therapy procedures and techniques for pulmonary function, disease, processes, and prevention.
• Provides for cleanliness and maintenance of respiratory equipment and associated work areas.
• Instructs clients and families on appropriate home programs and care.
• Documents evaluations, progress notes, care plans, and discharge summaries in accordance with existing criteria.
• Participates in Quality Improvement/Quality Assurance programs.
• Participates in Care Conferences and Team Meetings and communicates with individual members of the interdisciplinary team concerning client treatment as necessary.
• Maintains good rapport and cooperative relationships.
• Approaches conflict in a constructive manner.
• Helps to identify problems, offer solutions, and participates in their resolution.
• Maintains the confidentiality of information pertaining to clients and their families.
• Discusses client information only among appropriate personnel in appropriately private places.
• Demonstrates ability to work appropriately with clients who may exhibit aggressive or difficult behaviors following STRS Behavior Management Policy and training.
• Consults with STRS medical staff and external physicians or medical staff as appropriate to determine best course of treatment for clients.
• Rotate weekend on-call for respiratory services.
• Accompany clients on outside activities and appointments as required.
• Acts as liaison and assume the duty to report and coordinate nursing services regarding client status and care.
• Acts independently and make sound clinical judgments regarding changing client status and needs and subsequent required care.
• Performs arterial blood gas draws with ability to interpret and communicate results.
• Behaves in accordance with the Mission and Values of Special Tree.
• Assumes responsibility for performance of job duties in the safest possible manner, to assure personal safety and that of clients and co-workers.
• Maintains confidentiality of information pertaining to clients and their families.
• Participates in required meetings and other STRS committees as applicable.
• Demonstrates the ability to work appropriately with clients who may exhibit aggressive or difficult behaviors following Special Tree behavior management policy and training.
• Maintains required CEUs required for licensure and Completes required education & training learning hours annually (25 hours for full time, 15 hours for part time).
• Respects and appropriately considers age, gender and cultural differences among clients/customers and co-workers.
• Works towards and maintains proficiency with company-wide and department-specific software.

SUPPLEMENTAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Organizes and participates in educational activities for clients, their families, and other health professionals.
• Maintains knowledge of current trends and developments in the field by reading the appropriate literature and attending professional conferences.
• Provide or coordinate respiratory services to Heavlin residential as needed.
• Participates in Special Tree committees, as appropriate.
• Participates in community wellness, emergency and preparedness programs as appropriate.
• Mentors clinical rotations of respiratory students as required.
• Serves as preceptor to new respiratory therapists as required.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND LICENSURE

• Registered as a Respiratory Therapist or Certified by the American Association of Respiratory Care or National Board of Respiratory Care with comparable experience in respiratory care.
• Licensed as a Respiratory Therapist in the state of Michigan.
• At least 2 years of experience in a critical care, ICU setting is preferred.
• Successful completion of required training including Basic Life Support (BLS) and other courses to be determined by STRS, CARF and/or State of Michigan.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to work independently and assume responsibility for job duties listed above.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with clients, families, physicians, and other interdisciplinary team members.
• Strong interest and ability in updating skills and knowledge of advancements in Respiratory Therapy.
• Strong interest in working closely with clients and their families.
• Must be of good moral character.
• Analytical skills necessary to develop a treatment plan and modify treatment as the client progresses.
• Flexibility and adaptability; must be able to assume the role of therapist, educator, or supervisor at all times.
• Ability to work independently.
• Must be detail oriented.
• Must have strong clinical assessment skills.
• Must maintain a professional manner at all worksites and in the community.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is a combination of sedentary and physical activities completed in a normal office and client care environment. Work is generally within the NeuroCare Center, although various other worksites may be assigned. Travel off Special Tree grounds may be required. Respiratory Therapists are occasionally exposed to verbally and physically aggressive clients. Exposure to airborne and bloodborne pathogens and other infectious material is possible. Capability and flexibility to bend, stoop, reach, push, and pull repeatedly throughout an 8 or 12 hour shift. Lift, move, push, pull and bend to perform various client transfers with very heavy body weight and tone (excess 100 lbs). Repeatedly through an 8 or 12 hour shift. Lift, move, and carry objects frequently over 50 lbs. and repeatedly over 20 lbs. Push a wheelchair frequently in excess of 150 lbs. Tolerate almost constant standing and walking during 8 or 12 hr. shift. May on occasion be required to lift over 50 lbs. Very High Exposure Risk Jobs with a very high potential for exposure to known or suspected sources of SARS-CoV-2 during specific medical, postmortem, or laboratory procedures. Workers in this category include: Healthcare workers (e.g., doctors, nurses, dentists, paramedics, emergency medical technicians) performing aerosol-generating procedures (e.g., intubation, cough induction procedures, bronchoscopies, some dental procedures and exams, or invasive specimen collection) on known or suspected COVID-19 patients. Healthcare or laboratory personnel collecting or handling specimens from known or suspected COVID-19 patients (e.g., manipulating cultures from known or suspected COVID-19 patients). Morgue workers performing autopsies, which generally involve aerosol-generating procedures, on the bodies of people who are known to have, or are suspected of having, COVID-19 at the time of their death.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

The Respiratory Therapist reports to the Respiratory Manager. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be a complete list of all duties performed. This is not a contract.