Respiratory Therapist PD Night Shift

MLK Community Healthcare; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

MLK Community Healthcare in Los Angeles is hiring a Respiratory Care Practitioner for acute care patients. You will assess diagnoses, provide therapy, monitor devices, and document patient responses across age groups. Strong NBRC credentials and BLS/ACLS/PALS are required, with bilingual skills preferred.

Responsibilities include blood gas analysis, airway management, CPR/NR, and patient/family teaching, while maintaining infection control and quality standards in a fast-paced hospital setting.

Qualifications

• CoARC approved respiratory program graduate and NBRC cert is required.
• 1+ year acute care RT experience preferred; strong education considered.
• NBRC CRT or RRT credential required or credential-eligible.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients, perform therapy per protocol and document results.
• Evaluate data from respiratory monitoring devices and record findings.
• Assess patient response to care and adjust as needed; document.
• Initiate routine orders per department policies and timelines.
• Measure and adjust airway cuff pressures when needed.
• Recommend changes to physicians and health team as appropriate.
• Perform respiratory procedures and disinfection of equipment.
• Perform blood gas analysis and report critical values.
• Obtain arterial/capillary/cord blood samples with proper labeling.
• Perform CPR/NR and handle emergencies across unit areas.
• Assist with suctioning and airway clearance per protocol.
• Participate in patient/family teaching on disease management.

Skills

Bilingual Spanish

Basic computer skills

BLS

ACLS

PALS

MAB

NRP

EMR experience

Education

CoARC approved program

NBRC CRT or RRT credential

Tools

EMR system

Job description

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Knows admitting diagnosis and pulmonary pathophysiology for assigned patients, performs patient assessments and provide appropriate therapy.
2. Evaluates and documents data obtained from respiratory monitoring devices on assigned patients.
3. Evaluates patient’s response to all respiratory care provided and appropriately documents required information as outlined in department policies and procedures.
4. Determines appropriateness and provides recommendations for respiratory care services, taking into consideration the needs of different age groups, cognitive abilities, and development status.
5. Initiates new routine orders within time specified in department policies and procedures.
6. Measures and adjusts airway cuff pressures.
7. Recommends changes in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to physicians, nursing, and/or co-workers.
8. Taking into consideration patient age and development status, modifies those treatments/procedure techniques which do not require a change in physician's orders to optimize the delivery of care, and reports modifications to appropriate health care team members.
9. Utilizes the appropriate chain-of-command when consulting on patients not responding to standard therapeutic procedures.
10. Performs respiratory diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
11. Performs procedures for disinfecting respiratory equipment and adheres to infection control policies and procedures.
12. Performs and evaluates blood gas analysis to include quality control procedures adhering to lab policies and procedures.
13. Obtains arterial, capillary, and cord blood samples, ensures that samples are labeled appropriately, handles and disposes of blood samples per policy and procedure.
14. Performs blood gas analysis; documents and reports critical blood gas values to nurse/physician.
15. Performs analyzer maintenance and quality controls and ensures cleanliness of the blood gas laboratory.
16. Performs cardiopulmonary and neonatal resuscitation (CPR/NR) and responds to emergencies in all areas.
17. Auscultates lungs to assure proper endo-tracheal tube placement.
18. Identifies contraindications in regards to chest physiotherapy and appropriately informs and provides recommendations to the physician.
19. Performs oral, nasal, and tracheal suctioning to ensure airway patency.
20. Collaborates with physicians and nurses in regards to the appropriate frequency of suctioning for assigned patients.
21. Provides reasonable solutions upon the identification of problems.
22. Participates in Patient/Family Teaching: Independently assesses patient learning needs and seeks assistance in identifying/meeting learning needs of patients and families specific to management of chronic pulmonary disorders. Patient family education is to include disease management, proper use of medication and administration devices, oxygen therapy and related equipment.
23. Maintains a safe and clean environment that complies with regulatory standards including Patient Safety Goals.
24. Participates in the implementation of the department specific Quality and Performance Improvement Plan, completes monitoring forms and reports findings to the Respiratory Manager.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

A. Education

• Graduate of a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) approved school and passage of the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) certification examination.

B. Qualifications/Experience

• Minimum of one (1) year of experience as a Respiratory Care Practitioner in an acute care setting with regard to regulatory guidelines and standard of practice. In lieu of this experience, consideration will be made for an applicant with strong education and associated experiential background.
• National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential or National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential .
• Consideration will be made for credential-eligible or CRTT-credentialed Respiratory Therapist with over 25 year’s experience.

C. Special Skills/Knowledge

• Bilingual skills preferred (Spanish)
• Basic computer skills
• Current Basic Life Support (B LS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Managing Assaultive Behavior (MAB) (Upon hire or with 90 days of hire)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) (Upon hire or within 90 days of hire)
• Electronic Medical Record experience preferred

Equal Rights Employer

Applicants are considered for positions without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, military service, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. This application is intended for use in evaluating your application for employment.

E-Verify / Right to Work

MLK Community Healthcare
1680 E 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
www.mlkch.org

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