
Lead Respiratory Therapist
- Hinsdale, IL
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Acknowledges daily staffing needs and changes on a shift by shift basis using spreadsheet.
- Fills shifts as directed by manager.
- Delegates shift assignments to other therapists.
- Ensures pagers are working and distributed to all therapists.
- Assigns and keeps track of lunch schedule and ensures that all staff use time clocks on their lunch break.
- Assigns and keeps track of WOWs.
- Notifies hospital operator of therapist assignments and pager numbers at the beginning of every shift.
- Places a copy of daily assignments in the proper journal.
- Prints an end of shift report to assure there are no open orders. If there are any open orders, he/she notifies the therapist responsible to complete them before leaving.
- Keeps track of BiPAPs and EKG machines and gives status report to next shift.
- Ensures that Pediatric EKGs have been sent for over read and keeps track of documents.
- Performs designated role in department CQI process.
- Acts as a Super User when new computer modules are introduced.
- Takes call as deemed necessary by supervisor or manager.
- Demonstrates respiratory care procedures to students and other health care workers.
- Acts as preceptor for students and new hires for orientation.
- Attends the majority of department meetings and department in-services.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Takes a shift assignment.
- Responsible for duties of Respiratory Therapist:
- Assisting and Caring for Others -- Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Documenting/Recording Information -- Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic form.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates -- Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work -- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
- Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
- Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
- Responds to Code Blue, Rapid Response and other Emergency Codes. Performs appropriate duties to rescue the patient, including maintaining the airway, intubation, chest compressions, ECG, ABG, and ventilator set-up. Trach tube changes will be limited to mature (greater than 7 days old) tracheostomies only.
- Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, and medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
- Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
- Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of medications and respiratory equipment. Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
- Associate Required
- ABG, EKG
- CERNER or other EMR
- Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Required
- Basic Life Support - CPR Cert (BLS) Required
- Neonatal Resuscitation Protocol (NRP) Preferred
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support Cert (PALS) Required
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support Cert (ACLS) Required