- Review physician's orders for completeness and indications for therapy, as well as potential contraindications prior to administering therapies/medications in accordance with AARC CPG.
- Conduct a clinical patient assessment including but not limited to cardiac and pulmonary evaluations.
- Further detailed assessment criteria are contained within the individual AARC CPG for the therapy ordered.
- Assemble equipment in accordance with manufacturers' specifications and departmental standards. Confirm that equipment is functioning per manufacturers' specifications prior to use. Monitor equipment function during use and apply appropriate corrective action in the event of malfunction.
- Administer ordered therapy while clinically monitoring the patient for outcomes, hazards, or complications arising during or immediately following therapy. Maintain, monitor, measure, and adjust mechanical ventilators appropriately to assure proper function and ascertain therapeutic effectiveness.
- Perform routine oxygen, aerosol, and emergent airway management, chest physiotherapy, postural drainage, and/or sputum induction to maintain patient airways (in accordance with AARC CPG).
- Perform assessments of patients and delivery systems (i.e., Ventilator Systems) on a regular basis in accordance with AARC CPG and departmental standards and practices.
- Document patient assessments, therapies delivered, patient monitoring, responses to therapies, and complications within the medical record in accordance with AARC CPG.
- Provide emergency response for cardiopulmonary arrest, respiratory emergencies, hospital disasters, and other emergencies as needed. Deliver basic life support maneuvers such as maintenance of a patent airway, external cardiac compression, manual ventilation by way of mouth-to-mouth, bag-valve-mask, and related ventilation techniques. Maintain AHA BLS certification on an annual basis.
- Act as a member of the health care delivery team, assisting in the development and implementation of multidisciplinary patient care plans. Document assessment of patient response to ongoing care and participate in the reevaluation of care delivery. Act as an integral part of the health team that partakes in the pulmonary rehabilitation of difficult-to-wean patients.
- Provide routine care, cleaning, disinfecting, and maintenance of departmental equipment. Document equipment malfunctions and alert supervisors. Assist with maintaining stock levels by notifying supervisors as levels require replenishment.
- Measure using appropriate available instrumentation: pulmonary function, gas exchange, respiratory rate, tidal and minute ventilation, alveolar-to-arterial PO2 gradient, intrapulmonary shunt fraction, respiratory mechanics (including static and dynamic compliance), pulse rate, blood pressure, arterial blood gases, end-tidal CO2, and pulse oximetry. Calibrate and maintain pulmonary function equipment and other departmental equipment in accordance with manufacturers' recommendations and departmental standards.
- With appropriate training, assist in the performance of bronchoscopes, sleep studies, bronchial provocation, and exercise testing for evaluation of hypoxemia and/or desaturation studies.
- Maintain departmental documentation including, but not limited to:
1. Departmental Therapy Records
2. Quality Assurance
- Assist in the development, implementation, and maintenance of departmental quality assurance programs and audits as assigned.
- Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans
#J-18808-Ljbffr