Associate Respiratory Therapist

Job Code

30000830

Basic Function

Administers continuous ventilatory life support; diagnostic, monitoring and therapeutic procedures on adult, pediatric and neonatal intensive care patients. Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation, diagnostic evaluation; treats and manages patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system.

Scope

Performs continuous ventilatory life support and general respiratory therapy throughout the healthcare facility. Cardio-pulmonary physiologic and hemodynamic monitoring in neonatal pediatric and adult intensive care units, emergency departments, and general wards and clinics. Acts as a resource to all physicians, nursing and other healthcare specialties in the management of patients requiring continuous ventilatory life support, diagnostic, and therapeutic modalities.

Provides respiratory care on twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, including holidays.

Principal Contacts

Respiratory Care Staff members, Physicians; Nursing staff, other health professionals and clerical staff; Company employees and their dependents as patients and other visitors and their families.

Principal Duties

1. Manage and support all respiratory care patients in the Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal populations.
2. Competently manage all patients on mechanical ventilation.
3. Use knowledge and experience to aid in patient management and in multidisciplinary rounds.
4. Be proficient in airway management of all age groups including manual resuscitation and assistance with intubation.
5. Work independently with therapist driven protocols (adapted orders).
6. Provide patient education.
7. Perform arterial blood gas puncture, arterial line sampling and analysis.
8. Perform calibration, quality control and routine maintenance of arterial blood gas analyzers.
9. Competently and independently perform weaning and extubation from mechanical life support.
10. Assess the respiratory status and history of patients of all age groups and determine the best modality of therapy.
11. Provides all respiratory care therapies including: Chest Physiotherapy, Incentive Spirometry, Deep Breathing and Coughing, Splinting Techniques, Active Cycle Breathing, Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP), Nebulizers, Meter dose inhalers (MDI’s).
12. Provide CPAP, BIPAP and non-invasive ventilation when indicated.
13. Participate in Code Blues (Internal Cardiac Arrests).
14. Assist with Bronchoscopies.
15. Work in all areas assigned, including: Adult Medical/Surgical/Cardiac ICU’s, Pediatric and Neonatal ICU’s, Emergency Department, and General Wards.
16. Participate in the transport of ventilated patients of all age groups both internally and externally.
17. Adheres to infection control standards and safety standards of this facility.
18. Adheres to policies and procedures of the Respiratory Care Unit and of JHAH.
19. Recognized that this is a JCIA accredited Hospital and adheres to the JCIA expectations of all employees.
20. Collect required CME’s and maintain Ministry of Health Licensure.
21. To perform sleep lab study (to be done by registered polysomnographic technologist only).
22. Provides other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Supervisor, or In-Charge Therapist.

Area of Responsibility

Not applicable

Area of Responsibility (cont'd)

Not applicable

Education

• Bachelor's  Degree in Respiratory Care from Saudi Arabia - with up to 2 years experience; or
• 3 years Diploma or  Bachelor’s Degree in Respiratory Care with either Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Certificate - with up to 2 years experience; or
• Bachelor’s Degree in Respiratory Care from outside Saudi Arabia, without CRT or RRT, with minimum 9 years experience in acute care in KSA or North America.
• Completion of 1 year internship required.

Certification/Other requirements as applicable

Fluent spoken and written English. Spoken Arabic desirable.