Job Description

　　Location: Chicago, IL

　　Hospital: RUSH University Medical Center

　　Department: Respiratory Care

　　Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)

　　Shift: Shift 3

　　Work Schedule: 12 Hr (7:00:00 PM - 7:00:00 AM)

　　Summary:

　　Provides simple, intermediate, and complex therapeutic and diagnostic procedures on the general care floors and special care units. Functions as a clinical specialist within one of three specialty areas: neonatal/pediatrics, adult critical care, or pulmonary function testing. Orient new employees and precept students. Provides charge therapist duties and serves as a team leader in the critical care units to coordinate rounds and work with staff to ensure quality and patient safety. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

　　Responsibilities:

　　Provides charge therapist duties as assigned; assigns/reassigns workload for staff, updates department information management systems during the shift, prepares workload assignments for the next shift.

　　Precepts employees during new employee orientation and during orientation to a specialty care unit.

　　Initiates, monitors, and weans mechanical ventilation; makes parameter recommendations based on clinical assessment, technical assessment, and laboratory values; manages airways.

　　Performs pulmonary function testing including spirometry, lung volume testing, body plethysmography, methacholamine challenge testing; performs arterial puncture and blood gas analysis.

　　Administers bronchial hygiene and treatment procedures including aerosol therapies, chest physical therapy, therapeutic gas administration; analyzes gases where applicable; procures and delivers gases using central piping systems and gas cylinders.

　　Assesses patients clinically before and after the administration or application of any medication, procedure, or device; recommends appropriate therapy including initial therapy, changes in therapy, and discontinuance of therapy.

　　Applies CPAP and BIPAP and makes recommendations based on patient compliance, response, and laboratory values.

　　Performs advance competencies in assigned areas; such as, high frequency ventilation, airway pressure release ventilation, proportional assist ventilation, heliox therapy, inhaled nitric oxide, and patient transports.

　　Documents work timely, completely, and accurately, including documentation in the patient medical record, documentation in the department records, and patient billing.

　　Assesses patient oxygenation, ventilation, and hemodynamic status through clinical observation, patient assessment, physiologic monitoring including oximetry, capnography, ventilator waveform analysis, cardiac output, ECG, and laboratory values.

　　Demonstrate initiative in optimizing patient care by participating in physician rounds and documenting assessment findings and therapy changes

　　Provides patient/family education.

　　Performs bronchoscopy assist.

　　Assist in completing staff competencies.

　　Provides input on staff performance to department management.

　　Participates in CQI and QA initiatives including work audits and committee participation.

　　Provides clinical supervision of respiratory care students on rotation.

　　Demonstrate professionalism by belonging to a professional organization such as AARC / ISRC and/or pursuing education to advance ones skills.

　　Serve on RT department committees as assigned.

　　Other duties as assigned.

　　Other information:

　　Required Job Qualifications:

　　•Bachelor’s Degree.

　　•Registered Respiratory Therapist and an Illinois Respiratory Care Practitioner license.

　　•Adult critical care clinical specialty requires BLS, ACLS, and the NBRC Critical Care specialty credential.

　　•Neonatal/Pediatric critical care clinical specialty requires the NBRC Neonatal Pediatric Specialty (NPS) credential, PALS, and NRP.

　　•Diagnostic section requires the Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) credential.

　　•Six months experience in Rush’s respiratory care services.

　　•Technical skills are required to adapt equipment and procedures to patient needs.

　　•Analytical skills are required to evaluate patients and their clinical response to therapy.

　　•Customer service skills are required to effectively meet the needs of patients, families, and members of the healthcare team on an almost constant basis.

　　•Above average interpersonal skills are required to provide direction to other staff.

　　•Excellent communication skills are required for precepting and communication with colleagues.

　　•High level of patience must be exhibited as people learn at different speeds.

　　•Highly adaptable to respond to changing workloads and priorities.

　　Physical Demands:

　　•Standing, walking, pushing, and bending for 75% of the day.

　　•Ability to lift 20 pounds to move gas cylinders.

　　Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

　　Position Respiratory Therapist 2

　　Location US:IL:Chicago

　　Req ID 4447