Description
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Summary:
- Under the direction and supervision of the Respiratory Care Director, provides direct patient care and performs selected therapeutic interventions and diagnostic procedures. Provides diagnostic, rehabilitation, therapeutic, emergency, and life support services for patients experiencing respiratory compromise. This shall include the installation, maintenance, and management of respiratory care equipment.
Responsibilities:
- 1. Utilizes knowledge and critical thinking skills to safely assess and care for patients, with consideration for age-specific accommodations. Displays knowledge of lung anatomy and physiology. Displays knowledge of pulmonary diseases and their effects on patients. Displays knowledge of Respiratory Care treatment modalities and assesses the effectiveness of therapy. These include, but are not limited to aerosolized medication, incentive spirometry, chest physiotherapy, PEP therapy, and VEST therapy. Displays knowledge of respiratory medications, appropriate use, mechanisms of action, and adverse effects. Displays knowledge of and interprets Arterial Blood Gases (ABG’s). Displays knowledge of pulse oximetry and its implications. Analyzes basic pulmonary function results, i.e. spirometry. Assesses and identifies adventitious breath sounds. Assesses bilateral breath sounds to confirm proper placement of endotracheal tube. Assesses artificial airways for proper position and level of tissue integrity. Displays knowledge of BiPAP and CPAP and their appropriate applications. Displays knowledge of ventilator modes and their appropriate applications. Displays knowledge of basic lung mechanics and ventilator waveform interpretation. Assesses patient condition as part of the Rapid Response Team. If assigned to the Pulmonary Function Lab, displays knowledge of advanced pulmonary function studies, such as carbon monoxide diffusion, lung volumes, and bronchial challenge. Collaborates with other members of the health care team to deliver the best care possible to patients. Supervises new Associates during orientation period. Supervises Respiratory Care college students during clinical rotations. If assigned to the Bronchoscopy Lab displays knowledge and proficiency needed to assist in procedures. 2. Competent delivery of care in non-critical settings, with consideration for age, weight, and medical condition. This includes, but is not limited to, medication delivery, airway clearance techniques, oxygen delivery systems, ABG's, bedside spirometry, BiPAP, and CPAP. If assigned to the PFT lab, this also applies to complete pulmonary function testing. Safely and effectively provides Respiratory Care Treatment modalities to patients, including, but not limited to: Aerosolized medication via small volume nebulizers, metered dose inhalers, and dry powder inhalers. Instructs patient on proper techniques and benefits of therapy. Uses barcode scanning and the Medication Administration Record (MAR) to ensure correct patient receives correct medication with the correct dose at the correct time. Chest physiotherapy. Instructs patient on proper techniques and benefits of therapy. Incentive spirometry and deep breathing. Instructs patient on proper techniques and benefits of therapy. PEP therapy. Instructs patient on proper techniques and benefits of therapy. VEST therapy. Instructs patient on proper techniques and benefits of therapy. Administers various levels of oxygen and aerosol therapy using multiple types of devices. Provides basic Pulmonary Function Testing (spirometry) at the point of care. Draws arterial blood gases (ABG’s) using safe technique while following infection prevention guidelines. Administers non-invasive ventilatory support using BiPAP and CPAP units. Assists physicians during bronchoscope procedures. Provides smoking cessation counseling to patients. If assigned to the Pulmonary Function Lab, performs advanced pulmonary function studies, such as diffusing capacity, lung volumes, and bronchial challenge. Follows infection prevention guidelines when delivering Respiratory Care. 3. Competent delivery of care in critical settings, with consideration for age, weight, and medical condition. This includes, but is not limited to, medication delivery, airway clearance techniques, oxygen delivery, BiPAP, CPAP, and bronchoscopy assisting. Also included are ventilator care and management, airway care, and emergency life support. Safely administers mechanical ventilation to patients, using various types of mechanical ventilators. Applies mechanical ventilation, using basic and advanced modes. Patient age, ideal body weight, and medical condition are considered appropriate application. Monitors and maintains ventilator support to insure continuance of effective and safe ventilation. Follows established guidelines for the prevention of ventilator-associated conditions. Maintains position, integrity, and patency of artificial airways. Follows safe practices when suctioning and securing airways. Provides multiple modalities for oxygen delivery. Assists physician during bedside bronchoscopy. Participates as a member of the Rapid Response Team. Assesses patients for early signs and symptoms and provides interventions to avoid possible life-threatening conditions. Participates in Code 9’s and other emergent situations. Responsible for maintaining the patient airway and providing oxygen and ventilatory support. Monitors capnography and assists during the intubation process. Responds immediately to Respiratory Care “STAT” calls. Responds to Respiratory Care needs in the Emergency Department, including, but not limited to mechanical ventilation, BiPAP, CPAP, High Flow Oxygen, pediatric NIV, and drawing of arterial blood gases (ABG’s). Transports mechanically ventilated patients throughout the hospital for various testing procedures. Monitors end tidal CO2 (ETCO2) on patients when ordered. Delivers aerosolized pulmonary vasodilators to ventilator patients. Follows infection prevention guidelines when delivering critical Respiratory Care. 4. Competent delivery of care in the Intensive Care Nursery. This includes, but is not limited to, ventilator care and application of modes, Bubble CPAP, and oxygen delivery systems. Safely administers mechanical ventilation to infants, using infant specific modes. Considers infant specific needs when providing mechanical ventilation. Monitors and maintains ventilators to insure continuance of effective and safe ventilation. Safely administers infant CPAP using properly fitting nasal prongs or cannula and bubble CPAP unit. Provides supplemental oxygen and aerosol to infants using oxyhood unit. Administers oxygen via nasal cannula to infants. Follows infection prevention guidelines when delivering care in the Intensive Care Nursery. 5. Accept physician orders. Verifies and provides accurate documentation of care in patient EMR and Kardex. Gives thorough report to oncoming shift personnel. Retrieves physician orders from the department printer. Accepts verbal and telephone orders from physicians, following established policies for order read-back and writing orders in the chart. Reviews medication orders for appropriateness. Enters printed order in appropriate Kardex. Thoroughly enters patient and therapy information on patient card and places in Kardex. Accurately enters therapy volumes per patient per shift on patient card to provide accurate totals for department billing purposes. Enters brief assessment per patient per shift. Edits patient and therapy information as changes occur. Thoroughly documents various patient therapies in the patient EMR. These include, but are not limited to: Treatments Ventilator, BiPAP, and CPAP checks Drawing of Arterial Blood Gases Oxygen delivery system Following established medication safety procedures, delivers medications to patients utilizing barcode scanning of medications and patient name bands. Uses double identifiers to ensure delivery of care to correct patient. Documents medication delivery in the MAR. Provides smoking cessation counseling, COPD education, and Obstructive Sleep Apnea education. Also provides medication information and documents in the interdisciplinary section of the chart. Records and prints nocturnal oxygen saturation studies and scans into the patient chart. Provides thorough report on each assigned patient to the following shift personnel. This includes, but is not limited to: Diagnosis Type and time of therapy provided Response to therapy Vital signs and breath sounds Oxygen and ventilation support Physical assessment 6. Keeps supplies stocked and properly cares for equipment. This includes infection control procedures, assembly, final checks before patient use, and monitoring during use. Also includes stocking of medication carts and oxygen tank carts. Keeps assigned patient areas stocked with E-size oxygen cylinders. Stocks medication cart drawers with par levels of medications for the following shift. Following infection prevention guidelines, reprocesses reusable equipment between patient uses: Wipes down exterior surfaces of respiratory machinery with a hospital approved disinfectant. Places reusable parts in a bio-hazard container for delivery to Sterile Processing for sterilization. Following infection prevention guidelines, disposes of equipment that is “single patient use” after one use. Assembles and tests ventilators, as per department policy, before placing on patients. Documents such via sticker on the unit. Treats all equipment with care.
Credentials:
Education or Equivalent Experience:
We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.
Live Your Life's Work
We are an Equal Opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.
