The Respiratory Care Practitioner is responsible for assessing patients with respiratory disorders, conducting diagnostic tests, developing treatment plans, and administering respiratory therapy. This role operates medical devices, monitors patient responses, and provides emergency care when needed. This role works closely with healthcare teams to manage respiratory conditions, improve lung function, and enhance patient well-being. Working under some supervision, this role also educates patients about respiratory health and disease prevention.
Essential Job Function:
- Restores patient's pulmonary function and alleviates pain by planning and administering medically prescribed respiratory therapy.
- Provides quality care by conducting pulmonary function tests, assessing and interpreting evaluations and test results, and determining respiratory therapy treatment plans in consultation with physicians and by prescription.
- Helps patient accomplish treatment plan by administering inhalants, operating mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators.
- Administers respiratory therapy treatments by performing bronchopulmonary drainage, assisting with breathing exercises, and monitoring physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes.
- Evaluates effects of respiratory therapy treatment plan by observing, noting, and evaluating patient’s progress and recommending adjustments and modifications.
- Completes discharge planning by consulting with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health care workers, contributing to patient care conferences.
- Assures continuation of therapeutic plan following discharge by designing home exercise programs and instructing patients, families, and caregivers in home exercise programs.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Education:
- Required: High School Diploma or equivalent; Graduate of accredited Respiratory Therapy program.
Experience:
Licensure/Certification/Listing:
- Required: Licensed by North Carolina Respiratory Care Board and by National Board of Respiratory Care as an RRT (Registered Respiratory Therapy) within six (6) months of hire Provisional license OR CRT (Certified Respiratory Therapist) required at hire in lieu of RRT credential BLS (CPR)-American Red Cross or AHA Healthcare Provider ACLS-American Red Cross or AHA Healthcare Provider. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS).