Senior Respiratory Therapist - Downtown Campus

Selected candidates with 2+ years of experience may be eligible for a $10,000 sign-on incentive if all qualifications are met including a minimum two-year commitment. ($5,000 sign-on for candidates with less than 2 years of experience).  Current UI employees are not eligible.

University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center Downtown (located at 500 E. Market Street, Iowa City, IA) is a 194-bed hospital that became part of Iowa’s only comprehensive academic health system on Jan. 31, 2024.

Position Summary:

Direct, organize, review and coordinate the work of respiratory therapists and technicians within a specific area of assignment and provide respiratory care as required. Responsible for the delivery of respiratory care, including ventilation, medical gas therapy, medicated aerosol therapy, pulmonary hygiene, blood gas sampling and analysis, non-invasive oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring, and to supervise the implementation of respiratory care in the patient care units. Provide critical care expertise, education, routine shift staffing and shift operations relief.

Position Responsibilities:

Institutes and Provides Mechanical Ventilation

• Sets up and checks out ventilators for stand-by according to department procedure
• Consults with physicians to implement appropriate initial ventilator settings with regard to patient condition and age in relation to training.
• Performs complete ventilator checks at the designated times.
• Demonstrates an understanding of all modes of ventilation used at UI Health Care.
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot all ventilators and circuitry used in areas of assignment.
• Provides in-line drug therapy utilizing correct filter system.
• Provides safe in-house transport of ventilated patients according to scheduled times.
• Provides safe out-of-house transport of ventilated patients
• Completes medical record charting according to department procedure.

Institutes & Provides All Forms of CPAP & BiPAP

• Sets up and processes supplies for CPAP, BiPAP, and NPCPAP and nasal pharyngeal circuit systems according to department policy.
• Demonstrates an understanding of all CPAP/BiPAP therapy and its intended use with regard to patient condition and age in relation with training.
• Consults with physicians to implement appropriate CPAP and BiPAP settings.
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot systems.
• Completes medical record charting according to department procedure.

Delivers Medical Gas Therapy

• Sets up, delivers, and assesses therapeutic value of oxygen therapy according to department procedure with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Sets up, delivers, and assesses therapeutic value of nitric oxide therapy according to department procedure with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Sets up, delivers, and assesses therapeutic value of other medical gases therapy according to department procedure with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Performs medical gas checks at designated times according to department procedure
• Troubleshoots medical gas delivery systems according to department policy
• Completes medical record charting according to procedure
• Demonstrates an understanding of all medical gas therapies and their intended purpose

Provides Safe Delivery of Medicated Aerosol & General Therapies

• Provides medicated aerosol and general therapies to patient according to department procedures and with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Understands the rationale and side effects of inhaled medications
• Assesses the appropriate delivery method of inhaled medications and recommends the use of metered dose inhalers, as indicated.
• Sets-up and delivers Ribavirin therapy according to department procedure
• Completes medical record charting according to procedure

Provides Pulmonary Hygiene

• Provides pulmonary hygiene services to patients with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Suctions patient when ordered and/or clinically indicated, using proper technique
• Provides comprehensive chest physical therapy.
• Completes medical record charting according to procedure

Performs Blood Gas Sampling & Analysis

• Demonstrates acceptable technique in drawing arterial blood gases with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Demonstrates acceptable technique in drawing capillary blood gases with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Demonstrates acceptable technique in drawing arterial and venous line blood gases with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Uses universal precautions when drawing and analyzing blood gases
• Operates the blood gas analyzers according to manufacturer's directions
• Demonstrates ability to calculate AVDO2 using monitor and calculator
• Completes medical record charting according to policy

Provides Non-Invasive Monitoring

• Sets up and operates Oximeters with regard to condition and age in relation to training.
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot Oximeters
• Sets up, calibrates, and operates Capnometers with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot Capnometers
• Sets-up and operates Apnea Monitors with regard to condition and age in relation to training
• Demonstrates ability to troubleshoot Apnea Monitors
• Completes medical record charting according to policy

Participates in the Orientation/Education Activities

• Explains procedures in an understandable manner.
• Demonstrates cooperation and respect when assisting in the orientation process.
• Provides orientation and continuing education to specific units of responsibility.
• Completes orientation check-out sheets after observing the orientee perform the task.
• Communicates with Quality Assessment/Education Supervisor in regard to education and in-service needs
• Conducts at least one department in-service per year

Assist in the Training of Students

• Explains procedures in an understandable manner.
• Demonstrates cooperation and respect when assisting in the education process.
• Completes evaluation sheets.
• Provides oversight to all procedures performed by students

Adheres to Hospital Epidemiological Practices

• Complies with universal precautions.
• Complies with infection control procedures.

Other Responsibilities

• Conducts assigned tasks in a courteous, effective, and efficient manner.
• Communicates workload fluctuation with supervisor.
• Assists other staff members during slow times.
• Accepts constructive criticism.
• Reports to work area in proper attire prepared to receive report by beginning of assigned shift
• Answers pages when they occur, or as soon as present task is completed.
• Gives an accurate report to oncoming shift.
• Enters accurate patient charges into electronic medical record by the completion of assigned shift
• Perform projects or tasks within the agreed upon time unless a time extension is requested and approved.

Senior Therapist Duties

• Direct and supervise the implementation of Respiratory Therapy care of patients in a given work area serviced by the Respiratory Therapy Department.
• Provide information, assistance and direction to respiratory therapists, technicians, students and other departmental staff.
• Assign and prioritize coverage for the services during a specific work period by determining the most effective and efficient use of Respiratory Therapy Personnel, replacing or supplementing staff.
• Responsible for the identification of respiratory care shift or area problems, taking appropriate corrective action or referral of problem to appropriate supervisor.
• Assist in the development and presentation of continuing education programs.
• Assure adequate inventory of supplies and equipment necessary for the proper operation of the services within area of assignment.
• Maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, students and the public.
• Supervises the delivery of respiratory care for a specific work period or a specific work area.
• Assigns staff coverage to provide services during a specific work period.
• Prioritizes workloads in relation to the available staff resources.
• Documents and initials scheduling changes on the Master Staff Schedule.
• Completes at least two rounds per shift.
• Presents a comprehensive and accurate report to on coming supervisors.
• Assesses staffing needs for on-coming shift and secures adequate staffing.
• Collaborates with the supervisory and other senior staff to implement policy/ procedure.
• Identifies and communicates problems to the area and shift supervisors.
• Assures established inventories for equipment and supplies are maintained.
• Consults with physicians in the development and implementation of respiratory care.
• Communicates in a constructive manner to solve conflicts involving physicians, nurses, and other health care practitioners.
• Participates in Technical Operations of Department
• Communicates with Technical Division regarding the evaluation of new equipment and supplies.
• Communicates with Technical Division regarding the operation and troubleshooting of equipment and supplies.
• Assures established inventories for equipment and supplies are maintained.
• Performs maintenance and quality control of the blood gas analyzers, as required.

Job Shift: Night Shift (3rd Shift)