RRT I - New Grad

UF Health; Saint Augustine, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

UF Health in Saint Augustine, FL is seeking a dedicated Respiratory Therapist to deliver routine, emergent and critical cardiopulmonary care under physician supervision for patients across the age spectrum.

The role requires an accredited associate degree in respiratory care and a Florida RRT license, with responsibilities spanning mechanical ventilation management, patient assessment, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to ensure safe, effective care.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in respiratory care from an accredited program.
• Florida license as Registered Respiratory Therapist.

Responsibilities

• Supervises delivery of cardiopulmonary care per policy and procedure.
• Delivers therapy per physician orders and reassesses patient progress.
• Initiates and maintains mechanical ventilation and adjusts settings per protocol.
• Responds to hospital emergencies and participates in interdisciplinary rounds.
• Documents clinical data and ensures safety and regulatory compliance.

Education

Associate's Degree Accredited Respiratory Care Program

Job description

Overview

The Respiratory Therapist provides routine, emergent and critical cardiopulmonary care under the direction of a
physician to pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patients. Adheres to hospital policies and the rules and regulations
of all local, state and federal agencies and to the standards of all accrediting bodies. Actively participates in outstanding
customer service and accepts responsibility in maintaining relationships that are equally respectful to all.

Responsibilities

Supervises the delivery of cardiopulmonary care in accordance with applicable policy and procedure. Delivers timely
therapy according to physician orders. Ensures the effectiveness of therapy administered with assessment and
reassessment and monitoring patient progress. Recommends change in respiratory plan of care according to medical
necessity. Completes clinical documentation including worklist tasks in a timely manner with special attention to detail
and any unusual findings.
Monitors, instructs, and coaches patient before, during and after treatment delivery. Prevents and/or resolves untoward
side effects. Adjusts therapies according to protocol and documented clinical criteria. Makes and/or recommends
changes based on pulse oximetry, peak flow measurement, chest x-ray, lab work and other data relevant to optimal
patient progress.
Initiates and maintains mechanical ventilation. Determines or guides the determination of ventilator mode and settings.
Reevaluates patient/ventilator interface a minimum of every four hours. Responds to alarms and troubleshoots as
needed. Establishes weaning readiness and facilitates weaning process and documents including VAE prevention
requirements each shift. Attends interdisciplinary rounding and communicates findings with intensivist team.
Takes initiative to assists Respiratory II for invasive procedures such as intubations, bedside bronchoscopy and
insertion of arterial lines to learn procedures and provide support.
Draws and analyzes arterial blood gases; performs other point of care testing to include lactic acid, chemistry, and
troponin. Follows all safety and regulatory guidelines in the lab, with little to no errors. Critical Values are reported and
documented. Makes or recommends changes in respiratory management according to blood gas results.
Responds to all hospital emergencies including Fire Alarms, Code Yellow, Code STEMI, Rapid Response, and Code
Blue; establishes and maintains airway and performs CPR.
Stays up to date on all equipment functions and associated precautions and hazards of all equipment used. Takes
initiative to place work orders for any preventative maintenance or equipment malfunction.
Demonstrates the proper procedure for obtaining, charging for, and returning medications and supplies. Helps to
maintain adequate supply levels at assigned locations for accurate inventory control.
Participates in daily huddles, rounding, and hospital education activities by attending in-services, and training necessary
to maintain clinical competency. Completes computer based learning and Net competencies as scheduled. May be
required to act as a preceptor for new students and/or new hires.

Qualifications

Associate's Degree Accredited Respiratory Care Program

Registered Respiratory Therapist Florida License