Respiratory Therapy Extern

Creating Life Better Here starts with you. At San Juan Regional Medical Center, we're more than a healthcare provider—we're a values-driven organization dedicated to delivering exceptional care. As a team member, you help fulfill our mission to make life better here for our community.

The Respiratory Therapy Student Externs (RTSE) help restore patients to their optimal health status through the scientific application of tests and treatments for the Cardio Respiratory system. Working as a coordinated team with physicians and other healthcare providers they provide emergent, diagnostic, critical and restorative care to patients with heart and lung disease. They are the very breathe of life.

Required Behaviors:

- As you go about fulfilling this mission, your work habits and work relationships should embody SJRMC's values. These values are our culture, our identity as an organization: Sacred Trust, Personal Reverence, Thoughtful Anticipation, Team Accountability, and Creative Vitality ask more of us than merely completing some list of tasks. Our values ask for a deeper level of commitment, and what is asked of us we freely give because we believe in our mission.

Required Qualifications:

- Enrolled (in good standing) in an A.M.A./J.R.C.R.T.E. accredited school of Respiratory Therapy
- BLS certification
- Temporary Training Permit by New Mexico Respiratory License Board to be obtained upon acceptance of position
- The RTSE operates under the general supervision of the department licensed practitioners and leadership team
- The RTSE provides critical care under the direct supervision of fully licensed staff

Preferred Qualifications:

- ACLS
- PALS
- NRP

Duties and Responsibilities:

Routine Respiratory Therapy Modes:

- The RTSE will deliver routine respiratory modes per physician orders and department policy.
- The RTSE will implement any pertinent standing order per department policy and will communicate with the physician and other care providers about the indications, hazards, and alternatives for respiratory care.

The RTSE will administer all therapy with a correct understanding of the following:

- Available equipment
- Objectives & Indications
- Contraindications/hazards
- Treatment of information required
- Alternative therapies
- Medication actions, delivery modes, hazards, contraindications, and adverse side effects

Advanced Respiratory Therapy Modes:

- The RTSE may initiate and maintain invasive and noninvasive mechanical life support, assist in establishing and maintaining artificial airways for patients in all age groups in partnership with physicians and other care providers under direct supervision of a fully licensed RCP.
- In the event the RTSE is faced with a problem or determines that a respiratory care procedure that he or she has not yet received approval to perform independently that is immediately necessary for a patient, he or she will immediately notify the Shift Supervisor, if present, or a co-worker on the shift for assistance and guidance.

Patient Monitoring: The RTSE will correctly implement, monitor, troubleshoot and interpret invasive and noninvasive physiological monitoring and testing systems for assessment of the patient cardiorespiratory system. This includes but is
not limited to:

- EKGS
- Bedside Spirometry
- Oximetry
- End Tidal CO2 Monitoring
- Mixed Venous Oximetry
- Weaning Parameters
- Holter Monitoring

Arterial Blood Gasses/ Capillary Blood Gasses:

- The RTSE will understand the hazards, indications, and procedures for drawing arterial samples for assessment of the patient cardiorespiratory system
- The RTSE will be capable of interpreting ABG results and implementing/recommending the appropriate actions

Documentation:

- The RTSE will follow department hospital policy for documentation
- All required regulatory, financial, and assessment documentation will be completed in a timely manner

Equipment Maintenance and Supply:

- The RTSE will assist with maintaining, processing, and restocking of any and all supplies required for the departments function

Infection Control: The RTSE will adhere to department and hospital protocols for infection control. This includes but is not limited to:

- Hand washing
- Proper equipment assembly and reprocessing and change out
- Use of personal protective equipment
- Observation of Isolation Protocols

Communication: The RTSE is responsible for communicating all pertinent information for patient care and department operations to all of the appropriate people. This includes but is not limited to:

- The patient and family
- Physicians and other care providers
- Coworkers
- Department Leadership
- Attend in-services and department meetings

RT Protocol:

- The RTSE is responsible for initiating, assessing implementing and following the departments Respiratory Care Protocols in collaboration with the physician and other care providers.

CPR/RRT/Code Blue: The RTSE is responsible for:

- Initiating CPR/ Code Blue
- Responding to Code Blue/Disaster Calls
- Stocking and assembly of airway/resuscitation supplies as required

Staff /Client Relations: The RTSE will:

- Respect cultural diversity
- Employ interpreters as needed
- Act collaboratively with physicians, other care providers, the patient and their family
- Employ age specific communication and teaching strategies
- Advocate for patient rights as needed
- Interact professionally with coworkers and promote interdepartmental teamwork

Other Duties Assigned:

- Each employee is responsible for implementing SJRMC’s Service Standard into their daily work:

Safety, Courtesy, Effectiveness, and Stewardship

- Other duties as assigned

Physical Demands and Environmental Work Conditions:

- Potential exposure to blood borne pathogens and/or hazardous materials, noxious/irritating fumes, long hours, and unforeseen conditions that might generate stress may be encountered
- Extensive walking, standing, lifting, positioning, pushing and/or transferring of patients may be required
- Correctable visual and auditory acuity to safely perform job duties
- Practice Respiratory Care within established standards of care
- Take call as assigned