Respiratory Therapist

Job Description

Assesses, diagnoses and treats patients suffering from cardiopulmonary respiratory disorders. Under the direction of a physician, educates patients and staff regarding chronic and acute pulmonary disorders, provides consultative services to area hospitals/agencies, and provides technical and educational support to nurses regarding respiratory procedures.

Principle Responsibilities

Provides respiratory assessment and therapeutic intervention.

Identifies opportunities to improve outcomes by utilization/recommendation of appropriate therapies or interventions.

Applies knowledge of approved protocols and clinical indications for interventions and routinely applies protocols to progress patients appropriately.

Communicates with the care team to ensure exchange of essential information.

Demonstrates competency with operation and troubleshooting of equipment used for therapy.

Provides for safe/effective management and monitoring of all forms of mechanical ventilation.

Provides mechanical ventilatory support safely and effectively to meet objectives identified by the provider and/or protocols.

Demonstrates competency in operation and troubleshooting of ventilators.

Identifies best mode of ventilation and opportunities to optimize patient-ventilator interface, makes recommendations to provider as appropriate.

Assess readiness to wean, recognizes failure to wean and documents findings.

Provides invasive and non-invasive ventilation, ventilation during transport, manual resuscitation by bag/valve device, weaning assessment, respiratory mechanics and waveform analysis, non-traditional modes and techniques.

Manages airway appropriately to include positioning, securing, humidification selection and suctioning.

Negotiates decisions within own scope of practice and in the best interest of the patient.

Collaborates with nurses and providers to assure respiratory goals are not in conflict with other aspects of patient care.

Provides disease management education to patients and families.

Recognizes opportunity to increase patient knowledge of disease management and/or coping skills.

Reinforces positive patient behaviors and skills during treatment interactions.

Possesses and shares knowledge of asthma self-management and COPD education.

Educates patient on inhaler techniques, peak flow monitoring asthma and COPD education to achieve patient compliance for self-administration.

Educates patient on diaphragmatic and pursed lip breathing techniques to alleviate dyspnea.

Conducts diagnostic testing and analysis.

Completes necessary tests to assist in the medical management of the patient.

Demonstrates competency in technique and technology to meet standards.

Possesses clinical knowledge of interpretation of results and acts accordingly.

Complies with policy and procedure as well as processing of report.

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Associate’s or Vocational degree from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) accredited Respiratory Care Program

0 to 2 years in a critical care setting

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree from a CoARC accredited Respiratory Care Program or other health science related program

0 to 2 years as a Respiratory Therapist

Licenses/Certifications

Licensed Respiratory Therapist – MN Board of Medical Practice required as required by location of employment and

Licensed Respiratory Therapist – WI Dept of Safety & Professional Services required as required by location of employment and

BLS Tier 1 – Basic Life Support – Multisource required and

ACLS/BLS Tier 2-Advanced Cardiac Life Support – Multisource preferred within 180 days and

PEARS – Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition & Stabilization – Multisource required at sites providing pediatric care within 180 Days or

PALS – Pediatric Advance Life Support – Multisource required at sites providing pediatric care within 180 Days and

NRP – Neonatal Resuscitation – Multisource required at sites providing neonatal care within 180 Days

Credentialed by the National Board of Respiratory Care preferred

Physical Demands
Medium Work*:
Lifting weight Up to 32 lbs. occasionally (*Allina Safe Patient Moving Policy), Up to 25 lbs. frequently

Additional Job Description

Additional Job Description

Benefit Eligible

Night Shift 7p-730a

Every 3rd Weekend

Work Schedule:

Varied

[Apply Now](https://allina.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/AH-Faribault-Medical-Center/Respiratory-Therapist_R-0053050)