Per Diem Respiratory Therapist - Subacute

Kaweah Delta Health Care District; Visalia (CA); On-site; USD 68,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Kaweah Health in Visalia, CA seeks a Respiratory Therapist for night shift in the Respiratory Therapy department. The role involves ventilator management, IPPB, oxygen therapy, and spirometry across age groups. Compliance with CA licensure and NBRC RRT is required.

Responsibilities include patient care, equipment sterilization, codes response, and education of staff and students. Join a public healthcare district with a wide service footprint.

Qualifications

• Licensed CA Respiratory Care Practitioner in good standing.
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) per NBRC guidelines.
• Current BLS certification is required.

Responsibilities

• Perform ventilator checks and ensure proper function for all patients.
• Administer IPPB and aerosol therapies as prescribed.
• Perform bedside spirometry and document patient progress.
• Respond to Code Blue and provide life-saving support as directed by physician.
• Sterilize and maintain respiratory equipment per procedures.
• Educate and train respiratory and nursing students as assigned.

Skills

Ventilator checks

IPPB

Oxygen therapy

Bedside spirometry

Education & training

Code Blue response

Education

CA Respiratory Care Practitioner license

RRT — NBRC

BLS certification

Tools

Ventilators

IPPB equipment

Aerosol therapy devices

Pulmonary function equipment

Job description

Kaweah Health is a publicly owned, community healthcare organization that provides comprehensive health services to the greater Visalia area in central California. With more than 5,000 employees, Kaweah Health provides state-of-the-art medicine and high-quality preventive services in our acute care hospital, specialized health centers and clinics. Our eight-campus healthcare district has 613 beds and offers comprehensive health services across a broad continuum of care.

It takes a special person to work for Kaweah Health. We serve a region where the needs are great, which makes the rewards even greater. Every day, we care for people facing unique challenges and in need of healing. Throughout it all, our focus is to make a difference, and we do - in the health of our patients, our loved ones, and our community.

Benefits Eligible

Not Benefits Eligible

Work Shift

Night - 12 Hour Shift (United States of America)

Department

7720 Respiratory Therapy

Under general supervision the RCP will perform all respiratory care related duties. Sets up and administers all routine and complex respiratory therapy procedures to patients of all ages in all areas of the hospital as prescribed by a physician. Responsible for the application and operation of acute care ventilators used for continuous short and long-term mechanical ventilation. Maintain all department and hospital records and enters accurate information into the hospital computer for the therapy as given.

QUALIFICATIONS

License /Certification

Required:

• Current CA Respiratory Care Practitioner license
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) from The National Board for Respiratory Care
• BLS

Department Specific Requirements

If assigned education duties, requires three years experience in an acute care facility, preferably with supervisory or educational/training responsibilities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Essential

• Performs ventilator checks, assuring proper function of machine to ensure adequate ventilator support to patients. Performs more advanced therapy practices in the Intensive Care areas.
• Administers IPPB and Aerosol treatments as prescribed by attending physician.
• Performs and instructs patients on the use of postural drainage and percussion as prescribed by physician, assuring maximum secretion elimination.
• Responds to Code Blue situation, performing life saving procedures under direction of physician.
• Suctions patients using appropriate methods as described in the Respiratory Therapy procedure manual.
• Relays pertinent information regarding patients and incidents to therapist on next shift. Receives information prior to beginning shift to better facilitate patient care.
• Administers oxygen therapy, checking for proper functioning of oxygen equipment and therapeutic efficiency.
• Performs bedside spirometry as pre- and post-bronchodilator test to chart patient progress.
• Sterilizes and disinfects equipment according to manufacturers and department procedures. Assures all equipment is operating properly after processing.
• Assists with training of respiratory and nursing students. Assists with in-service education to hospital personnel and the community.
• Updates work schedule, adding and deleting patients as necessary. Assists with patient assignments with other members of the shift.
• Charts all equipment rounds, oxygen rounds and administers treatments on all patients. Records all pertinent information on patient.
• Assists with patient transport to other hospitals.
• Assists in the development of Quality Assurance through therapeutic evaluation and monitoring.

Addendum (essential for specific dept)

EDUCATOR:

Assists with planning, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating staff education on assigned units. Collaborates with other Clinical Educators to develop written educational programs. Educational programs have measurable outcomes and are result-oriented. Develops, updates, and maintains current competency program for unit orientation and on-going staff development in collaboration with Director. Develops a mechanism to ensure that all Respiratory staff/unit staff complete department-specific orientation and follow-up with appropriate individual(s) when standard is not met. Uses Performance Improvement (PI) information to improve patient care and staff education. Provides support and resource when there are identified educational needs/problems. Identifies and recommends selection of appropriate instructional material. Maintains records, files, and statistics pertinent to the job function. Completes special projects as assigned. Trouble shoots when there are technical or equipment problems.

PULMONARY FUNCTION:

• Calibrates pulmonary function equipment prior to first use Monday-Friday including bedside spirometer.
• Maintains monthly calibration logs.
• Performs monthly bio-study to validate quality assurance.
• Performs spirometry tests including: FVC, SVC, MVV, and MIP.
• Performs diffusion capacity tests entering hemoglobin correction when appropriate.