Respiratory Therapist

Job Description

Responsible for providing respiratory care to assigned patients. Responsible for the administration of therapeutic drugs with potentially serious side effects and use of diagnostic and technical equipment/instruments and for manipulative, diagnostic, therapeutic modalities ranging from simple sputum induction to complex mechanical life support ventilator management. This includes continually evaluating and documenting progress/responses of patients receiving any technical modalities. Independent judgment required due to technical nature of care rendered. Work performed during assigned rotating shifts. Receives general guidance and technical direction from the Head Respiratory Therapy.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensures through his/her actions, either directly or indirectly, that a superior quality of medical treatment, compassion and understanding is given to every patient served at the Riyadh Care Hospitals and Clinics.

• Performs as member of the Cardiopulmonary resuscitation team.

• Prepares and maintains emergency kits for airway intubation.

• Evaluates and manages all assigned patients receiving mechanical life support ventilation. Consults with specialty or general physician regarding any parameter adjustments and institutes prescribed changes of life support ventilator.

• Provides, evaluates and documents the administration of incentive spirometry, oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy, mechanical ventilation management, sputum induction and chest physiotherapy as prescribed for the patient by attending physician.

• Performs bedside pulmonary mechanics testing for diagnostic evaluation of a patient’s pulmonary status.

• Obtains, analyzes and assesses arterial blood gas and acid-base data, reporting same to prescribing and/or attending physician.

• Provides portable oxygen and other supportive respiratory equipment as needed for intra and inter hospital transportation of patients
• Delivers aerosolized medications for inhalation per physician prescription.

• Administers supplemental oxygen as prescribed by the physician, selecting the appropriate device.

• Confirms the identity of all patients being treated.

• Instructs patients/family members in use of therapeutic measures and lung expansion techniques as prescribed or indicated.

• Initiates the use of an automatic stop order for selected ongoing therapies which warrant physician re-assessment as per hospital policy.

• Assists physician in performing bronchoscopes.

• Maintains accurate documentation as to the type of modality, patient response notes any adverse reaction of patients receiving respiratory modalities and notifies Head of Respiratory Therapy, attending physician and responsible nursing staff of any adverse reaction, initiating emergency procedures as circumstances dictate.

• Evaluates and maintains proper operating condition of diagnostic and technical equipment/instruments as to cleanliness, sterility, maintenance and repair, to meet safety standards pertaining to both patient and medical staff.

• Maintains Joint Commission for Accreditation of Hospital Standards related to the prevention, control and spread of communicable diseases by the respiratory route or mediated by respiratory therapy.

• Participates in in-service education and clinical instruction of newly hired Respiratory Therapist.

• Adheres to Infection Control standards, safety and environmental health practices.

·        Responsible to educate patients /families as per their needs and to implement their whole role regarding patient / family education process as mention in patient & family education policy and procedure (NSP-GEN-014) including documentation in patient medical record.

·        They are knowledgeable about their essential role in patient and family education.

• Involves the patient/families in plan of care and respects patients/families regarding their goals and choices of patient care.
• Provides health promotion and health teaching thru methods appropriate to a patients’ developmental level, learning needs, readiness and ability to learn, language preference, culture and situations.
• Allots time necessary to assess, plan implement and evaluate patient education provided to patients/families with appropriate documentation.

·        Performs additional tasks and duties assigned by Superiors within the realm of the employee’s knowledge, skills and duties.

Qualifications:

  Education & Training:

A minimum of:

• Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy.
• Current certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support ( BCLS )
• Other Life support courses as per assigned area.

Experience:

• Two (2) years post graduate experience, preferably 6-12 months ICU/NICU as Respiratory Therapist.

Skills

• Fluency in verbal and written English.

• Exhibits professional and excellent interpersonal communication skills.

• Working knowledge of computer systems.

• Good command of medical terminology.

• Ventilator management knowledge and skills.

• Ability to work well with and within multi-disciplinary teams.

• Have critical thinking & problem solving skills