Senior Respiratory Therapist (PICU primary)- University Campus (100%)

UI Health Care is seeking a full-time Sr. Respiratory Therapist which will primarily be assigned to the PICU. To be responsible for the delivery of respiratory care, including ventilation, medical gas therapy, medicated aerosol therapy, pulmonary hygiene, blood gas sampling and analysis, non-invasive oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring, and to supervise the implementation of respiratory care in the patient care units.  Provide critical care expertise, education, routine shift staffing and shift operations relief. 

Selected candidates will be eligible for a $10,000 sign-on incentive if all qualifications are met including a minimum two-year commitment. Current UI employees are not eligible.

Shift: Combination of 2--8 hour shifts and 2--12 hour day shifts. Includes every third weekend and holidays.

Percent of Time:100%.

PICU Senior Therapist Duties

• Direct and supervise the implementation of Respiratory Therapy care of patients in each work area serviced by the Respiratory Therapy Department.
• Provide information, assistance and direction to respiratory therapists, technicians, students and other departmental staff.
• Assign and prioritize coverage for the services during a specific work period by determining the most effective and efficient use of Respiratory Therapy Personnel, replacing or supplementing staff.
• Responsible for the identification of respiratory care shift or area problems, taking appropriate corrective action or referral of problem to appropriate supervisor.
• Assist in the development and presentation of continuing education programs.
• Assure adequate inventory of supplies and equipment necessary for the proper operation of the services within area of assignment.
• Maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, students and the public.
• Supervises the delivery of respiratory care for a specific work period or a specific work area.
• Assigns staff coverage to provide services during a specific work period.
• Prioritizes workloads in relation to the available staff resources.
• Documents and initials scheduling changes on the Master Staff Schedule.
• Completes at least two rounds per shift.
• Presents a comprehensive and accurate report to oncoming supervisors.
• Assesses staffing needs for on-coming shift and secures adequate staffing.
• Collaborates with the supervisory and other senior staff to implement policy/ procedure.
• Identifies and communicates problems to the area and shift supervisors.
• Assures established inventories for equipment and supplies are maintained.
• Consults with physicians in the development and implementation of respiratory care.
• Provide training and education to the unit physician and nursing staff as needed.
• PALS instructor for respiratory therapists assigned to pediatric units
• Participate in PICU Quality and Safety meetings.
• Participate in Code Blue and Rapid Response reviews.

Institutes and Provides Mechanical Ventilation

• Sets up and checks out ventilators for stand-by according to department procedure
• Consults with physicians to implement appropriate initial ventilator settings with regard to patient condition and age in relation to training.
• Performs complete ventilator checks at the designated times.
• Demonstrates an understanding of all modes of ventilation used at UI Health Care.
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot all ventilators and circuitry used in areas of assignment.
• Provides in-line drug therapy utilizing correct filter system.
• Provides safe in-house transport of ventilated patients according to scheduled times.
• Provides safe out-of-house transport of ventilated patients
• Completes medical record charting according to department procedure.

Other Assigned Duties

• Sets up and processes supplies for CPAP, BiPAP, and NPCPAP and nasal pharyngeal circuit systems according to department policy.
• Demonstrates an understanding of all CPAP/BiPAP therapy and its intended use with regard to patient condition and age in relation with training.
• Consults with physicians to implement appropriate CPAP and BiPAP settings.
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot systems.
• Completes medical record charting according to department procedure.

Delivers Medical Gas Therapy

• Sets up, delivers, and assesses therapeutic value of oxygen therapy according to department procedure with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Sets up, delivers, and assesses therapeutic value of nitric oxide therapy according to department procedure with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Sets up, delivers, and assesses therapeutic value of other medical gases therapy according to department procedure with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Performs medical gas checks at designated times according to department procedure
• Troubleshoots medical gas delivery systems according to department policy
• Completes medical record charting according to procedure
• Demonstrates an understanding of all medical gas therapies and their intended purpose

Provides Safe Delivery of Medicated Aerosol & General Therapies

• Provides medicated aerosol and general therapies to patient according to department procedures and with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Understands the rationale and side effects of inhaled medications
• Assesses the appropriate delivery method of inhaled medications and recommends the use of metered dose inhalers, as indicated.
• Completes medical record charting according to procedure

Provides Pulmonary Hygiene

• Provides pulmonary hygiene services to patients with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Suctions patient when ordered and/or clinically indicated, using proper technique
• Provides comprehensive chest physical therapy.
• Completes medical record charting according to procedure

Performs Blood Gas Sampling & Analysis

• Demonstrates acceptable technique in drawing arterial blood gases with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Demonstrates acceptable technique in drawing capillary blood gases with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Demonstrates acceptable technique in drawing arterial and venous line blood gases with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Uses universal precautions when drawing and analyzing blood gases
• Operates the blood gas analyzers according to manufacturer's directions
• Completes medical record charting according to policy

Provides Non-Invasive Monitoring

• Sets up and operates Oximeters with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot Oximeters
• Sets up, calibrates, and operates Capnometers with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot Capnometers
• Sets-up and operates Somanetics NIRs monitoring with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot Somanetics NIRs monitoring
• Sets up, calibrates, and operates TcGas Monitoring with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot TcGas Monitoring
• Completes medical record charting according to policy

Participates in the Orientation/Education Activities

• Explains procedures in an understandable manner.
• Demonstrates cooperation and respect when assisting in the orientation process.
• Provides orientation and continuing education to specific units of responsibility.
• Completes orientation check-out sheets after observing the orientee perform the task.
• Communicates with Quality Assessment/Education Supervisor in regard to education and in-service needs
• Conducts at least one department in-service per year

Assist in the Training of Students

• Explains procedures in an understandable manner.
• Demonstrates cooperation and respect when assisting in the education process.
• Completes evaluation sheets.
• Provides oversight to all procedures performed by students

Adheres to Hospital Epidemiological Practices

• Complies with universal precautions.
• Complies with infection control procedures.

Participates in Technical Operations of Department

• Communicates with Technical Division regarding the evaluation of new equipment and supplies.
• Communicates with Technical Division regarding the operation and troubleshooting of equipment and supplies.
• Assures established inventories for equipment and supplies are maintained.
• Performs maintenance and quality control of the blood gas analyzers, as required.

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Qualifications Required:

• A Bachelor’s degree in a health-related science or an equivalent combination of related education and experience is required.
• Registered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, or National Society for Cardiopulmonary Technology, and maintain active membership.
• Licensed as a Respiratory Care Practitioner by the State of Iowa is required.
• Possess a current CPR certification card.
• PALS Instructor certification within (1 year of hire)
• Considerable (3-5 years) experience in Respiratory Care practice is required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required.

Qualifications Desired:

• 3-5 years recent critical care experience.
• Proficient in computer software applications.
• Adult Critical Care Respiratory Care Specialist (RRT-ACCS)
• Neonatal/Pediatric Respiratory Care Specialist (RRT-NPS)

Position And Application Details:

In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as required to the submission:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check. Please contact luann-wilford@uiowa.edu with any questions.