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

• Manage and support all respiratory care patients in the Adult, Pediatric and Neonatal populations.

• Competently manage all patients on mechanical ventilation.

• Use knowledge and experience to aid in patient management and in multidisciplinary rounds.

• Be proficient in airway management of all age groups including manual resuscitation and assistance with intubation.

• Work independently with therapist driven protocols (adapted orders).

• Provide patient education.

• Perform arterial blood gas puncture, arterial line sampling and analysis.

• Perform calibration, quality control and routine maintenance of arterial blood gas analyzers.

• Competently and independently perform weaning and extubation from mechanical life support.

• Assess the respiratory status and history of patients of all age groups and determine the best modality of therapy.

• 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).

• Provide CPAP, BIPAP and non-invasive ventilation when indicated.

• Participate in Code Blues (Internal Cardiac Arrests).

• Assist with Bronchoscopies.

• Work in all areas assigned, including: Adult Medical/Surgical/Cardiac ICU’s, Pediatric and Neonatal ICU’s, Emergency Department, and General Wards.

• Participate in the transport of ventilated patients of all age groups both internally and externally.

• Adheres to infection control standards and safety standards of this facility.

• Adheres to policies and procedures of the Respiratory Care Unit and of JHAH.

• Recognized that this is a JCIA accredited Hospital and adheres to the JCIA expectations of all employees.

• Collect required CME’s and maintain Ministry of Health Licensure.

• To perform sleep lab study (to be done by registered polysomnographic technologist only).

• 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.