Respiratory Therapist I

A Respiratory Therapist I is a novice with less than one year of RT experience. A Respiratory Therapist is a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) who performs general ward therapy RT procedures including: 02 therapy, bland aerosol therapy, medicinal aerosol therapy, volume expansion therapy, bronchial hygiene procedures, CPR. A Respiratory Therapist also performs Adult Critical Care RT procedures including: Setup/management of continuous invasive and non-invasive ventilator systems, specialty gases, and related monitoring and supportive adjuncts. Training in performance of Arterial Puncture for Blood Gas Analysis is required.

A Respiratory Therapist may pursue additional training in all "subspecialty services" provided by the CSMC Respiratory Care Service. " Subspecialty" Respiratory Care Services include: Management of Perinatal/Pediatric Ventilator Systems and related adjuncts; Bronchoscopy Assist; Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center RT procedures; RT Order Entry System Operation. Once training is complete, A Respiratory Therapist is expected to function as assigned in the subspecialty areas in which he/she has been trained and adjudged functionally competent.

• Performs general ward therapy RT procedures including setup and monitoring of: free flow 02 systems; pulse oximeters; bland aerosols systems; medicinal aerosol systems; volume expansion techniques/ devices; bronchial hygiene techniques/ devices; CPR.
• Management of Adult Ventilator Systems including: setup and management of continuous invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilator systems, specialty gases and related monitoring and supportive adjuncts. Performs arterial puncture for Blood Gas Analysis per approved policy and procedure.
• Observation, guidance and peer evaluation of new employees & RT students as assigned and as related to general care ward RT procedures and adult ventilator management procedures.
• TRAINING BASED OPTION--management of Newborn and Pediatric Ventilator Systems including: setup and management of continuous invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilator systems, specialty gases and related monitoring and supportive adjuncts used on newborn and pediatric patient populations.
• TRAINING BASED OPTION--Performance of Capillary Heelstick for Bloodgas Analysis per approved policy and procedure and as appropriate to shift need.
• TRAINING BASED OPTION--Performance of Bronchoscopy Assist procedures per approved service section protocols and as appropriate to shift need.
• TRAINING BASED OPTION--Operation of the Respiratory Therapy Service Section computerized order entry and dispatch system per approved protocols and as appropriate to shift need.

Education

• Assoc. Degree/College Diploma Associates Degree in Respiratory Therapy or similar - minimum
• Bachelor's Degree Bachelors Degree in Respiratory Therapy or similar - preferred

Experience

• No experience required RT Graduates – 1 year within acquiring RCP - minimum

Licenses and Certifications

• RCP State License - Upon Hire minimum Must be currently licensed by the State of California as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP.)
• Registered Resp Therapist - Upon Hire minimum RRT Certification will be current & valid at all times
• Basic Life Support (BLS) - Upon Hire minimum Current BLS certification & valid at all times
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS/ALS) - Upon Hire minimum Current ACLS certification & valid at all times
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) - Upon Hire minimum Current PALS certification & valid at all times

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