Sample Position Description—Critical Care Transport Respiratory Therapist

Position Description

• Practices in accordance with philosophy, policies, procedures, and stan­dards of the hospital; functions within the guidelines of the protocols for the transport program that are reviewed and agreed on by medical, nurs­ing, and respiratory care directors.

• Evaluates and maintains respiratory care services for all critically ill patients. Establishes patient care plans and collaborates with team mem­bers and MCP.

• Provides family-centered care to meet family needs, including psycho­social support, education, and transfer planning in conjunction with referral staff.

• Participates in the educational and professional development of transport team members.

• Represents the hospital to health care professionals in referring hospitals.

• Maintains effective communication with referral staff and families.

• Educates referral staff through informal teaching and planned educational conferences.

• Initiates and participates in educational, research, professional, and orga­nizational activities that contribute to improving patient care, the transport program operation, and the individual’s own professional development.

Reporting Relationship

Reports to:

• Medical director of the transport program for supervision and guidance in expanded role function.

• The MCP, as designated, for medical supervision concerning the manage­ment of individual neonatal and pediatric patients during transport.

• Transport program manager for administrative and care aspects of transport.

• Respiratory care director or designee for respiratory therapy and admin­istrative aspects of practice. This designee is usually but not exclusively within the transport program.

Requirements

1. Requires a minimum of 3 years of NICU/PICU or pediatric emergency department experience within the last 5 years. Critical care transport experience preferred.

2. Current in Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. Certification in NRP and ATLS preferred.

3. Requires National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) Registered Respiratory Therapist.

4. Requires degree from a Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-accredited respiratory care program.

5. Requires NBRC neonatal-pediatric specialist examination.

6. State licensure (if required) as a registered respiratory therapist.

7. Computer literacy.

8. Holds current passport or is eligible to apply for one, if program partici­pates in international transports.

9. Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills at staff, patient, and family levels.

Major Responsibilities and Duties

I. Patient care activities

A. Assists in obtaining pertinent maternal, neonatal, and pediatric histories with emphasis on risk factors and their implications for problems.

B. Performs and/or assists with as appropriate pertinent physical examination of the respiratory system using techniques of obser­vation, inspection, auscultation, and percussion.

C. Formulates a plan for management of existing and potential respi­ratory system problems in collaboration with the team leader and the MCP.

D. Performs necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as indi­cated for identification and management of problems indicated in the program's protocols, including (but not limited to):

1. Peripheral percutaneous arterial sampling

2. Assist in umbilical venous and arterial catheterization

3. Airway management, including assessment, stabilization, bag­mask oxygenation and ventilation, endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy management, and rescue airways

4. Needle aspiration of pleural space

5. Interpretation of routine laboratory and radiographic data

6. Assist in spinal immobilization

7. Assist in trauma triage care

E. Provides clinical management for resuscitation of neonatal, pediatric, and adolescent patients, including assisting in necessary pharmacologic support.

F. Performs in accordance with standing orders, and accurately documents delivery of care.

G. Provides ongoing monitoring, assessment, and appropriate respiratory care interventions in transit.

H. Ensures patient safety in the transport process.

I. Completes documentation in an accurate and timely manner, and transfers care of the patient to the receiving hospital staff.

II. Education

A. Contributes to community outreach and education.

B. Assists in the assessment of staff developmental needs, and participates actively in plans to meet those needs.

C. Participates in teaching or coordination of in-service classes or workshops for the transport staff.

D. Serves as a preceptor in the training of future transport team members.

III. Operation of transport equipment

A. Demonstrates knowledge of operation and troubleshooting of all transport equipment, and ensures proper functioning before trans­port. Is primarily responsible for the respiratory care equipment, including ventilators, pulse oximeters, gas cylinders, and oxygen and other medical gas delivery devices.

B. Participates in the ongoing evaluation of transport equipment needs. Reports and documents transport equipment repairs as needed to biomedical engineering.

C. Demonstrates knowledge of aircraft and ambulance operating procedures and safety practices.

IV. Special assignments/project responsibilities

A. Assists with medical procedures in the NICU/PICU or emergency department on request.

B. Performs the following transport quality improvement activities:

1. Maintains, supports, and documents evidence of a planned, systematic quality improvement program that includes effec­tive mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the patient care provided by the transport service.

2. Ensures appropriate and adequate response to findings from quality improvement activities.

3. Maximizes the efficient use of resources available to provide neonatal-pediatric transports.

4. Identifies opportunities to improve care.

V. Leadership

A. Initiates and participates in the implementation of change in transport respiratory therapy policies, procedures, and/or practice to enhance the quality of patient care.

B. Participates with transport staff in problem identification, goal setting, and transport care delivery evaluation.

C. Uses previous clinical experience and knowledge to identify poten­tial patient care problems related to transport.

D. Serves as a resource or consultant to nursing and medical staff regarding respiratory care aspects of neonatal and pediatric transport.

VI. Professional accountability

A. Demonstrates continued professional growth through continuing education and review of current literature pertaining to neonatal- pediatric transport.

B. Maintains licensure, certifications, and competency through required training and/or education.

C. Maintains professional relationships with community physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other health care professionals.

D. Participates in peer review of the transport team members and case reviews with the medical director.

VII. Research

A. Identifies researchable patient and respiratory care problems related to transport.

B. Uses evidence-based research findings in patient care.

C. Cooperates and/or collaborates with other health care team members in the conduct of research studies.

VIII. Physical capabilities

A. Frequently requires sitting, standing, and walking for long periods. Requires bending, crouching, and kneeling. Requires use of hands, keyboarding, fine motor skills, frequent lifting up to 50 lb, occa­sional moving up to 250 lb. Must be able to work in small confined spaces and be able to work in a mobile environment, either ground or air.

B. There is a potential for regular exposure to patients with infectious diseases requiring observance of appropriate precautions.

C. Flexible working hours required to provide 24 hour/day, 7 day/ week coverage, including rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and on call.

D. Dependability in regard to attendance at work, team meetings, respiratory care meetings, committee meetings, etc.

IX. Environmental conditions

Indoor and outdoor environments with possible exposure to infec­tious, biological, and chemical agents. Occasionally requires working in proximity to sources of radiation. Work area includes riding in enclosed spaces such as ambulances, helicopters, and airplanes. Work environment commonly provides exposure to high noise levels.

3.