Respiratory Therapist - UnityPoint Health

Respiratory Therapist 

UnityPoint Health - Fort Dodge

FTE: .9 (Full-time, 36 hours per week)
Shift: 7pm-7am with every other weekend and holiday

$10,000 SIGN-ON BONUS

Why UnityPoint Health?  

• Commitment to our Team – We’ve been named a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare 2022 by Becker’s Healthcare for our commitment to our team members.  
• Culture – At UnityPoint Health, you matter.Come for a fulfilling career and experience a culture guided by uncompromising values and unwavering belief in doing what's right for the people we serve.  
• Benefits – Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment – We’re committed to ensuring you have a voice that is heard regardless of role, race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.  

• Development – We believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is an essential part of delivering a remarkable employment experience.  
• Community Involvement – Be an essential part of our core purpose—to improve the health of the people and communities we serve.  

Visit us at UnityPoint.org/careers to hear more from our team members about why UnityPoint Health is a great place to work. https://dayinthelife.unitypoint.org/  

• Reviews physician orders and patient information to assess patient condition and review guidelines for treatment such as type and duration of therapy, medication and doses.
• Determines precautions to be observed, and modifications which may be needed that will be compatible with physician’s orders.
• Follows Respiratory Care policies to guide patient care.
• Administers therapy modalities to pediatric, adolescent, adult patients which include, but are not limited to: handheld nebulizer (HHN), metered dose inhaler (MDI), intermittent positive pressure breathing (I.P.P.B.) and chest physiotherapy (CPT).
• Administers oxygen therapies to pediatric, adolescent, young/middle/mature adult patients which include, but are not limited to: aerosol, non‑aerosol and helium‑oxygen mixtures (heliox).
• Performs ventilator therapies on adults, pediatrics, and infants. This includes airway management, clinical assessments, and all modes of ventilation including, but not limited to, controlled mechanical ventilation (CMV), assist‑control ventilation (A/C), synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV), flow‑by, pressure support ventilation (PSV), positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP), and pressure control ventilation (PCV).
• Performs physiologic monitoring which includes, but is not limited to, arterial blood sampling, bedside spirometry, ECG, Holter monitor application, and pulse oximetry (SpO₂).
• Operates blood gas analyzer to determine the acid‑base balance and the efficiency of ventilation.
• Performs specialized procedures which include, but are not limited to, airway management during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), tracheal suctioning, and tracheostomy care. Assignment to the Pulmonary Function Lab involves performing diagnostic procedures to identify and quantify dysfunction by spirometry, gas diffusion, and body plethysmography.
• Explains purpose and procedure of therapy, tests, and equipment to the patient.
• Monitors patient’s physiological responses to therapy such as vital signs and arterial blood gases.
• Observes equipment function and adjusts equipment to obtain optimum results to therapy. Consults with physician in the event of adverse reactions.
• Maintains patient’s chart containing patient and therapy information with strict confidentiality.
• Processes respiratory care equipment by cleaning and packaging as required.
• Inspects and tests respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently. Performs preventive maintenance and repairs when needed.
• Communicates with other members of the department and healthcare team in order to ensure continuity of care and coordination of services.
• Participates in unit operations demonstrating professional behaviors to include supporting goals of department and maintaining awareness of resource utilization.
• Demonstrates respiratory care procedures to orienting staff and other health personnel.

Education:      

• Must be a graduate of an approved school of Respiratory Care.
• Must be credentialed at minimum level of Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) through the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC), or eligible for credentialing and willing to attempt the necessary examination to obtain credentialed status

Licensure:              

• Must be licensed by the State of Iowa for Respiratory Care as a Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), or become licensed at the earliest time required by the State.  
• Must be certified in Basic Life Support (BLS), or become certified within three (3) months after hire date.

Experience:           

• Previous respiratory care experience preferred. 
• Completion of Respiratory Care Department and hospital orientation and competencies.

Skills/Abilities:

• Must be able to work independently.
• Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from the patient, their family, physicians, and other health care professionals with understanding and tact.
• Completion of Respiratory Care department and hospital orientation and competencies.
• Must be able to provide patient care appropriate to the infant, pediatric, young/middle/mature patient.
• Ability to delegate wisely, exercise good judgment, maintain good interpersonal relationships, adapt to change, evaluate critically, think creatively and implement.
• Member of the support stroke team requiring 2 hours of annual stroke