Employment Type:

Part time

Shift:

Rotating Shift

Description:

Under supervision of the department manager and/upon request of the physician order sets up and operates various types of respiratory care equipment to be utilized in the Diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease or illness. Also delivery of medications needed to assist in control of Respiratory ailments.

Demonstrates competence in providing Oxygen Therapy:

• Provides for safe and effective use of medical gas
• Obtains appropriate physician orders
• Identifies use of device for proper FiO2/liter flow
• Checks device at all connections for proper fit/patient comfort
• Properly identifies medical gases including vessel containers and their safety measures.
• Documents procedure appropriately

Demonstrates competence in Arterial Blood Gas Sampling:

• Verifies physician orders, and properly identifies patient.                       
• Explains procedure to patient/family using appropriate method of communication.
• Chooses appropriate site.  Performs Allen Test if radial site is utilized.
• Prepares site and palpates selected artery.  
• Punctures site at 45 degree angle for radial access & 90 degree angle for femoral/brachial access.
• Safely and efficiently obtains specimen.                               
• Applies pressure to site (minimum of 5 minutes for brachial/radial, 10 minutes for femoral.)
• Assesses for local hemorrhage at site, communicates to nursing staff.
• Labels specimen, obtains and completes lab slip(FiO2, name vent settings if appropriate). 
• Documents procedure appropriately.

PULMONARY TOILET/OROPHARYNGEAL SUCTIONING

• Verifies physician orders, and properly identifies patient.                      
• Explains procedure to patient/family using appropriate method of communication.
• Maintains patient airway.  Maintains clean technique throughout procedure.
• Utilizes proper size and length of catheter. 
• Tests suction for patency.                            
• Suctions mouth for no more than 15 seconds.                                     
• Flushes catheter after each suction pass.
• Encourages patient to deep breathe and cough between suction attempts.
• Provides oral hygiene after procedure.                                                                                                   
• Disposes of equipment according to standard precautions.
• Documents amount, odor and color of secretions.

Code Blue Response: Functions within the scope of practice/licensure at a cardiopulmonary emergency:

• Recognizes changes in patient condition and responds appropriately (notifies nurse/physician, initiates CPR)
• Functions calmly and efficiently in an emergency situation, so that the patient’s immediate needs are addressed and met.
• Ensures adequate maintenance of ventilation and oxygenation during procedure
• Assists nursing staff as needed
• Documents respiratory interventions on code records
• Assists anesthesia department as needed
• Assesses oxygen transport needs
• Maintains current BCLS  or ACLS

VENTILATOR CARE 

• Sets up and maintains ventilator functions.
• Verifies physician order, sets up ventilator as ordered by physician.
• Monitors use of ventilator for safe operation.                                              
• Suctions as per protocol.            
• Uses BIPAP and CPAP devices, ensuring proper size fit and comfort of patient.     
• Maintains knowledge of various ventilators in use.                      
• Troubleshoots and corrects problems, reports to biomedical department.
• Maintains infection control measures.                      
• Cleans and tests equipment after each use and returns to storage area