Assume primary clinical responsibility for all respiratory care modalities & to exercise considerable independent clinical judgment in the respiratory care of patients.
Essential Functions:
Includes but not limited to:
- Selects, Reviews, Obtains and Interprets Data:
- Accurately transcribes physician orders to electronic charting system or departmental patient master.
- Interprets data to formulate goal-directed plan of care and determines requirements for treatment.
- Recommends procedures to obtain additional data including radiographs, bronchoscopy, Gram stain and C&S, spirometry, blood gas analysis, lung mechanics, work of breathing, EKG, & noninvasic monitoring.
- Performs Diagnostic Modalities:
- Performs procedures and interprets results: ABG sampling and analysis, co-oximetry, spirometry, pressure-volume and flow-volume loops, cuff pressure, and sputum induction.
- Selects, Assembles and Checks Equipment for Proper Function, Operation and Cleanliness:
- Ensures proper function and ready availability of respiratory related life support equipment.
- Troubleshoots and performs minor repairs of equipment.
- Participates in routine departmental programs of cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing of respiratory care and other related equipment.
- Initiates, Conducts and Modifies Prescribed Therapeutic or Diagnostic Procedures:
- Observes established safety and security procedures and protects patients from nosocomial infection.
- Explains planned therapy or procedures and goals to patient in understandable terms to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes.
- Conducts therapeutic procedures to maintain a patient airway, remove bronchopulmonary secretions, and/or achieve adequate ventilation and oxygenation.
- Monitors patient's physiological responses to therapy, recognizes patient adverse reaction and stops or modifies or recommends modification to procedure based on patient response.
- Documents all rquired information in the medical record according to departmental policy and procedure.
- Initiates pressure-cycled/volume-cycled/high frequency ventilation.
- Weans/modifies mechanical ventilation according to assessment and physician orders.
- Assists with/or performs extubation.
- Conducts patient education and disease management.
- Supervision and Administration:
- Contributes to departmental quality improvement activities.
- Assesses priorities for delivery of patient care and redistributes resources as necssary.
- Protects data from intentional or unintentional destruction, modification, or disclosure.
- Maintains a current knowledge base of departmental information management systems, including collection, maintenance, and dissemination of information, as well as appropriate audit trails.
- Other Assessment Criteria:
- Maintains a professional appearance, displays professional conduct and ethical behavior.
- Participates in continuing education for professional development in Respiratory Care and related fields.
- This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
Qualifications:
Basic Qualifications:
- At least three (3) years regular (twenty (20) hours of more per week) of recent experience as Respiratory Care
- At least one (1) year of recent critical care experience preferred, may be required for this particular position
- At least one (1) year of clinical experience in neonatal/pediatric respiratory care preferred, may be required for this particular position
- At least one (1) year of clinical experience in the field of polysomnography preferred, may be required for this particular position
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent
- Graduate of an accredited respiratory care education program supported by CoARC or accredited by CAAHEP, required, with 62 semester hours of college credit, including a background in the basic sciences, or a baccalaureate degree in an area other than respiratory care or Associates of Arts of Science degree, preferred. Current Kaiser Permanente employees who received their RCP license prior to 1986 are exempt from this educational requirement
- Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner in the State of California
- Registered by the National Board of Respiratory Care
- Certification (CRT) from the National Board of Respiratory Care. (Respiratory Care Practitioners who received their RCP license prior to 1986 & currently working at Kaiser Permanente are exempt from obtaining their CRT credential)
- BLS required
- Depending on the particular specialty, ACLS, NRP or PALS may be required for this particular position
- Certified or Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist by the National Board for Respiratory Care, preferred, may be required for this particular position
- Registered by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists, preferred, may be required for this particular position
- Neonatal/Pediatric Specialist by the National Board, preferred, may be required for this particular position
- Ability to read & comprehend simple instructions, technical manuals, & short correspondence or memos
- Ability to write simple correspondence
- Ability to speak & understand spoken English
- Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one & small group situations to customers, clients, & other employees of the organization
- Must be willing to work in a Labor Management Partnership environment
- Also refer to Position Specifications outlined in the appropriate collective bargaining agreement
External hires must pass a background check/drug screen.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.