Respiratory Care Practitioner-Nicu

**\*Hiring Incentive: $10,000** **Primary Purpose:** Responsible for providing full respiratory care to patients within neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations, as prescribed by physician, and within established standards and practices. **Minimum Specifications** **Education** * Must be a graduate of a Respiratory Care Program from an accredited American Medical Association (AMA) program. * Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Care preferred. **Experience** * None **Equivalent Education and/or Experience** * None **Certification/Registration/Licensure** * Must have a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license from the Texas Medical Board. * Must be a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) through the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. (NBRC). * Must have a current Healthcare Provider CPR course completion card prior to hire and/or placement in job from one of the following: * American Heart Association * American Red Cross Rescuer * Military Training Network * Certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) or Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) preferred. **Required Tests for Placement** * None. **Skills or Special Abilities** * Must successfully complete General Care orientation. * Must successfully complete adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU) orientation to work in adult ICU areas. * Must successfully complete Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) orientation to work in NICU area. * Must be able to demonstrate assessment skills for prioritization of care, the application of patient driven protocols, and the delivery of respiratory care in neonatal, pediatric, and adult populations. * Must be proficient in the use of all equipment required for the delivery of Respiratory Care bedside therapeutic and diagnostic services. * Must be able to serve as a preceptor to new orientees, students, and interns. * Must be able to document activities accurately in the electronic medical record. * Must be able to demonstrate patient centered/patient valued behaviors. * Must maintain required departmental competencies. * May be asked to assume Charge responsibilities. **Responsibilities** * Evaluates need for service delivery by incorporating established protocols, physical assessment, physician interaction, patient history, and clinical judgement into the decision process. * Provides type and frequency of service that is consistent with patient need. * Applies understanding of cardio-respiratory anatomy and physiology to respiratory care practices. * Utilizes data and laboratory findings in conjunction with knowledge of specific disease/injury/process data to optimize care delivery. * Maintains and applies knowledge of indications, actions, interactions, and adverse reactions of respiratory active drugs to include those which produce a secondary respiratory effect, in order to provide optimal patient care. * Performs and documents diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in keeping with departmental standards for quality and service indicators. * Matches equipment needs with associated diagnostic/therapeutic intervention. * Demonstrates patient centered/patient valued behaviors. * Troubleshoots respiratory equipment to ensure appropriate function. * Removes and labels contaminated or malfunctioning equipment for processing as described in departmental objectives. * Promptly responds to requests for care. * Provides timely reports, on transferred patients, to receiving therapist which include priority status and pertinent case related data. * Gives and receives shift reports to assigned therapist to ensure a clear picture of patient baseline status and care needs. * Serves as a resource for students, physicians, and other healthcare professionals regarding respiratory care practices. * May also be responsible for administering pulmonary diagnostic testing and evaluation following the Pulmonary Laboratory related policies and procedures after training and competency evaluation * . Will be responsible to provide pulmonary rehab program education and virtual exercise classes.