Respiratory Therapist

Overview

Here is your opportunity to really help your community in a skilled nursing facility in Birmingham.

Responsibilities

• Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
• Provide assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• 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 and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
• Read prescription and review patient information to assess patient condition.
• Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals to manage patient care.
• Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
• Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
• Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
• 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.
• Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
• Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
• Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees and other health care personnel.
• Teach, train, supervise, and utilize the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, and assistants.
• Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.