Respiratory Therapist - 24hrs/Day Shift

Cooley Dickinson Hospital; Northampton (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton is seeking a Respiratory Therapist to administer therapy treatments and monitor patient conditions. The ideal candidate will hold an associate degree and a Respiratory Therapist license in Massachusetts.

Responsibilities include performing pulmonary consultations, guiding new personnel, and providing education to patients about respiratory therapy. This role also requires participation in quality control and professional development activities.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent required.
• Respiratory Therapist license in Massachusetts required.
• Basic Life Support certification from the American Heart Association required.
• Experience of 6 months to 1 year required.

Responsibilities

• Administer respiratory therapy treatments to patients.
• Monitor patient conditions and evaluate therapy effectiveness.
• Perform basic and advanced pulmonary function testing.
• Train new personnel in respiratory therapy techniques.
• Provide patient education on disease processes and equipment use.

Skills

Respiratory Therapy

Basic Life Support (BLS)

Pulmonary Function Testing

Patient Education

Emergency Assistance

Education

Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Therapist License (Massachusetts)

Tools

Blood Gas Analyzers

Pulmonary Function Analyzers

Job description

The Respiratory Therapist performs various technical duties to administer respiratory therapy treatments to assigned patients. This position is part of the 1199SEIU Bargaining Unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. This position reports to the Clinical Manager, Respiratory Care and operates within established organizational and departmental policies and procedures.

Minimum Requirements:

• Associate degree or equivalent required
• Respiratory Therapist license in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts required.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) for the Healthcare Provider certification from the American Heart Association required.
• NRP from the American Academy of Pediatrics required within 3 months of hire or transfer into position.
• Six months to one year of experience required.

Schedule:

• 6:00am - 6:30pm varies days during the week and rotating weekends

Essential Job Functions:

• Set up, apply, and administer therapy as directed, using complete range of respiratory equipment. Control such factors as respiratory ratio, pressure, volume, percentage of oxygen and other gases, administer aerosol medications, continuously monitor patient's condition.
• Perform pulmonary consultations and make recommendations for modes of therapy, frequency, medication, and duration as requested. Evaluate effectiveness of therapy by auscultation, laboratory tests, clinical observation, reporting significant changes to attending physicians and supervisors.
• Perform basic bedside pulmonary testing. Perform advanced pulmonary function testing in the pulmonary function laboratory using highly technical and complex equipment to measure volumes, flows, diffusion rates, and metabolic oxygen requirements.
• Perform techniques used in blood gas analysis. Oversee the training of all new personnel rotating through the Blood Gas Laboratory. Perform basic sleep studies.
• Maintain required records, charts, etc. Record treatments given and as needed, prepare charges for submission to accounting. Assist in setting up and maintaining quality control standards and programs within the department.
• Provide direction, assistance, and guidance to assigned personnel. Participate as an instructor in teaching basic respiratory therapy procedures and routines to other hospital staff who have occasion to handle respiratory equipment. Assist supervisory personnel in orientation and further training of new personnel.
• Provide education to patients on disease processes, breathing, medications, and use of home respiratory therapy equipment when requested by physician or nursing.
• Provide emergency assistance such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Assist in reconditioning and maintenance of routine therapy equipment. Maintain, calibrate, and repair highly specialized diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, such as blood gas analyzers, computerized pulmonary function and gas analyzers.
• Follow all organizational and departmental policies and procedures, objectives, confidentiality, quality improvement program, compliance, safety, infection control, environmental standards, and information management systems standards of use.
• Maintain professional growth and development through attendance at seminars, workshops, conferences or in-services, professional affiliations or journals to stay abreast of current trends in field of expertise and to fulfill all national and state CE requirements.
• Meet annual competency and retraining requirements.
• Attend meetings as required.
• Perform other functions/duties as requested.

Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.