Job Summary / Purpose

The Registered Respiratory Therapist is an (RRT) that possesses working knowledge of respiratory care and has displayed age-specific competence for all age groups serviced by the facility. The incumbent conducts himself/herself in a professional manner and is courteous to patients, physicians, visitors, members of the department and all other healthcare personnel. The incumbent supports and contributes to departmental productivity and organizational objectives by functioning as an integrated member of the respiratory care team and performs services consistent with his/her scope of licensure. The incumbent supports and exhibits behaviors consistent with the organization’s mission and values in offering hope and healing to all.

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

1. Plans and administers non-medicated aerosol and humidity therapy.
2. Plans and administers oxygen therapy (including implementation of oxygen therapy protocol where appropriate.
3. Plans and administers aerosolized medication and specialty gas therapy.
4. Plans and administers COPD care program.
5. Performs airway management.
6. Plans and administers incentive spirometry.
7. Cleans and reprocesses respiratory therapy equipment and stocks supplies for immediate use.
8. Plans and administers bronchial hygiene and performs chest physiotherapy (including implementation of bronchial hygiene protocol where appropriate).
9. Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation and manual ventilation during resuscitation attempts and aides in rapid response calls when appropriate.
10. Collects, analyzes and reports arterial blood samples.
11. Operates mechanical ventilators (invasive and non-invasive) and manages ventilator settings and weaning per protocols and provider orders.
12. Performs electrocardiography studies.
13. Performs bedside pulmonary function testing.
14. Performs overnight pulse oximetry.
15. When called upon to do so, serves as a preceptor to newly hired employees and/or respiratory therapy students.
16. When called upon to do so, serves in the charge respiratory therapist role.
17. When called upon to do so, assists in research projects (as directed by departmental and facility leadership.
18. Provides patient, family, hospital staff and physician education as appropriate. 
19. Attend staff or hospital meetings as required and participates on committees as directed.
20. Licensed Respiratory Therapists are qualified to perform respiratory care procedures as evidenced by education, training, experience and competency assessments.  Preceptor supervision will be required during onboarding and orientation.  The therapist should be able to independently carry out all respiratory therapy procedures at completion of orientation.  Critical care competencies may require additional education and training (i.e. intubation, arterial line insertions) Once these competencies are completed the employee is able to independently perform the procedures
21. Performs other duties, within the scope of licensure, as assigned by management.

The job summary and responsibilities listed above are designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed within this job. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all job responsibilities required of employees assigned to this job. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience 

At a minimum, the incumbent shall have received the equivalent of an Associate’s Degree in Cardiopulmonary Services or Respiratory Care from an accredited respiratory therapy educational program. 

Required Licensure and Certifications

RESP-LIC:KY

RRT

BLS-CPR 

ACLS within 3 months

Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Training

The incumbent shall be skilled in interpersonal communication to the level that is required to effectively interact with patients, visitors and members of the healthcare team. The incumbent shall possess critical thinking skills adequate to evaluate patient conditions and recommend appropriate intervention (or to seek assistance when necessary). The incumbent shall display time management skills that are sufficient to organize scheduled tasks in a manner that ensures delivery of high quality respiratory care. At a minimum, the incumbent shall communicate in English at the twelfth grade level. Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security. Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles. The incumbent shall possess basic rationale in communicating therapeutic needs with patients, visitors and members of the healthcare team. Ability to work independently; capable of handling challenging / difficult procedures and patient care situations; demonstrates sound judgment and executes above average clinical skills. Exhibits strong interpersonal and team player skills with all levels of the healthcare team and assures delivery of excellent customer service to all patients, visitors, physicians and co-workers. Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision including, organizing work flow and actively participating in problem-solving. Possesses basic computer knowledge; operates multiple computer systems to include, Hospital / Respiratory Information Systems and Office software to maintain patient and exam docum

Welcome to Saint Joseph East, a 217-bed, full-service, community hospital located in a convenient setting in Lexington, Kentucky. Saint Joseph East also includes the Women's Hospital at Saint Joseph East which is dedicated to supporting the well-being of women in Central and Eastern Kentucky and serves a 16-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). 

CHI Saint Joseph Health is part of CommonSpirit Health, a non-profit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. With approximately 175,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians. 

Our commitment to serve the common good is delivered through the dedicated work of thousands of physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, and staff; through clinical excellence delivered across a system of 140 hospitals and more than 2,200 care centers serving 24 states.