Respiratory Therapist-Registered

Job Overview

Overview

Under the supervision of the medical director, the Respiratory Therapist-Registered is responsible to provide respiratory care services in accordance with physicians’ orders, department policies and procedures, as well as respiratory therapy-driven protocols. The Respiratory Therapist is responsible for providing basic and advanced care services to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients.

Why UnityPoint Health?

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  Here are just a few:    

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.  

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Responsibilities

Clinical Excellence/Patient Care

• Assesses and evaluates the respiratory status of neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients.
• Determines requirements for treatment, such as type, method, and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, and medication and dosages, compatible with physicians’ orders.
• Initiates, conducts, and modifies prescribed therapeutic and diagnostic procedures per established protocols.
• Monitors patient’s physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes, and consults with physician if adverse reaction occurs.
• Applies and monitors medical gases and related respiratory therapy modalities.
• Develops the respiratory care plan based on the assessment of the patient.
• Responds to Code Blue/Pink, Trauma, Rapid Response Team or other urgent calls for patient care.
• Provides emergency care, including artificial respiration, external cardiac massage and assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Sets up and operates devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment. Manages ventilators and artificial airway devices.
• Reviews patient information to assess patient condition.

Leadership/Collaboration

• Works collaboratively with the team of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to manage patient care.
• Enforces safety rules and ensures careful adherence to physicians’ orders.
• Deploys clinical quality initiatives in the respiratory therapy service line.
• Uses a variety of research techniques to assist the physician in cardiac and pulmonary best practices.
• Demonstrates respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel.
• Collaborates with community partners for the development and maintenance of community outreach programs.

Development/Education

• Performs pulmonary function testing and adjusts equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
• Educates patients and their families about their conditions and teaches appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of medications and respiratory equipment.
• Explains treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Maintains and updates department policies and procedures per evidence-based practice standards.
• Uses problem solving to identify and correct malfunctions of respiratory care equipment.

Qualifications