Respiratory Therapist
Company: Duke Health
Location: Durham
Posted on: October 29, 2024
Job Description:
At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate
care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the
greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and
discover how we can advance health together. -About Duke University
Hospital -Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University
Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked
among the best in the United States and is the number one hospital
in North Carolina, according to U.S. News and World Report for
2023-2024. Duke University Hospital is the largest of Duke Health's
three hospitals and features 1048 patient beds, 65 operating rooms,
as well as comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities,
including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery
center, and more.Job DescriptionThe Respiratory Therapist
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Specialist (RT ECMO Specialist)
is a licensed advanced respiratory care practitioner with advanced
training in extracorporeal life support, responsible for the
operation and management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
(ECMO) devices and care of patients being supported with ECMO based
on established policies and procedures and physician/advanced
practice provider (APP) order.Duties and responsibilities
- Operates the ECMO device and manages ECMO-related care for
neonatal, pediatric, and adult ECMO including, but not limited to:
ECMO circuit set up, priming, and initiation of ECMO support;
adjustment of ECMO flow, gases, and temperature; accessing the ECMO
circuit for laboratory studies, drug, fluid, and blood
administration, ultrafiltration, dialysis, and apheresis;
continuous ECMO and patient data monitoring and interpretation
including hemodynamics, ECMO parameters, labs, and imaging; patient
and circuit assessments, care, and maintenance; emergency
interventions to any part of the ECMO circuitry including ECMO
catheters.
- Demonstrates expertise in caring for patients with multiple or
complex conditions in which ECMO may be indicated; ECMO physiology
including effects of congenital anatomical defects and palliations,
various cannulation strategies and support modalities and impact of
additional cardiopulmonary support devices.
- Ensures appropriate ECMO patient care, anticipating,
identifying and correcting problems associated with any ECMO
procedures or technology and collaborates with the care team to
deliver superior patient care including the knowledge, clinical and
communication skills to direct and deliver critical troubleshooting
and emergency response for patients on ECMO support; functions
independently following standing orders and ECMO policies,
procedures, and protocols.
- Coordinates activities such as turns, baths, dressing changes,
diagnostic testing, procedures, and patient mobility with the care
team to directly support and maintain patency of the cannulae as
well as stability of cardiopulmonary support while patient is
undergoing ECMO.
- Actively participates in ECMO patient rounds to share
information and determine appropriateness of patient care plans;
maintains communication with ECMO Leadership Team regarding
concerns and variances as well as any ECMO patient complications;
utilizes the ECMO electronic record to maintain ongoing complete
and detailed documentation of patient and ECMO parameters; provides
family/parental education and reinforces medical counseling
initiated by the physician and advanced practice provider team;
provides a clear and concise end of shift report for oncoming ECMO
Specialist regarding ECMO settings, patient status, and patient
care plans; provide orientation, education and training for Duke
residents and fellows, interdisciplinary partners in assigned
units, new hires, and students. Supports ECMO team quality
improvement initiatives and research through the collection of
ECMO-related data, preparation, and presentation of research
abstracts and/or other documentation. Contributes to the
maintenance of the environment of care including cleanliness and
stocking.
- Maintains all competencies and continuing education
requirements as set forth by the Department of Respiratory Care
Services, the Duke ECMO Program, Duke University Hospital, and the
State of North Carolina including competence in all
responsibilities of the Respiratory Care Practitioner Advanced as
RT ECMO Specialists will be floated to assist respiratory care
practitioners as assigned during times of low ECMO census.Required
Qualifications at this LevelEducation
- Completion of a two-year CoARC approved respiratory care
program (Associates Degree or equivalent) required.
- Bachelor Degree preferred.Experience
- Two years' experience in clinical respiratory therapy,
including one- year experience in intensive care respiratory
required.
- ECMO experience preferred.
- Experience working in a team environment and excellent
communication skills.
- Computer skills required, prior experience with electronic
medical record systems preferred.
- Demonstrated leadership, effective communicator, and excellent
critical thinking skills.Degrees, Licensure, and/or Certification
- North Carolina State Licensure with ECMO verification, required
within 90 days of hire.
- Registry (RRT) by the National Association for Respiratory Care
(NBRC), required.
- AHA Basic Life Support (BLS), required.
- AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), required.
- AHA Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), required.
- ELSO Adult ECMO Practitioner Certification (E-AEC) required
within 12 months for current teammates. New hires, or those
transferring into the role will have 12 months from their hire or
transfer date, into the ECMO Specialist role.
- Once released (anticipated date January, 2025), the ELSO
Pediatric ECMO Practitioner Certification (E-PEC) will be required
within 12 months for current teammates. New hires, or those
transferring into the role will have 12 months from their hire or
transfer date, into the ECMO Specialist role.Knowledge, Skills, and
Abilities
- Knowledge necessary to make appropriate clinical decisions and
interaction relative to the specific age of a patient.
- Skills validation/competencies for the duties and
responsibilities required for a Respiratory Care Practitioner,
Advanced Skills validation/competencies for the duties and
responsibilities required for an ECMO Specialist.
- Maintain ECMO Continuing Education requirements as specified by
the State of North Carolina Respiratory Care Board as well as the
Duke ECMO Program including attendance and participation in
specified continuing education activities, competencies, and
minimum direct ECMO patient care hours.
- Ability to work flexible hours, which may include days,
evenings, nights, holidays, and weekends and on-call.
- Ability to adapt to unpredictable situations within the work
setting.
- Ability to triage and prioritize multiple priorities in high
acuity patient care.
- Must maintain annual safety/compliance requirements.
- Must maintain North Carolina annual license requirements for
CEUs.
- Work may require lifting or pushing in excess of 50
pounds.
- Work requires walking, running, climbing, and bending. - - Duke
is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to
providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's
age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity,
genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, or veteran status. - Duke aspires to create a
community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and
belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of
ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our
perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve
this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community
feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals
are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our
community have a responsibility to uphold these values. - Essential
Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke
University Health System may include essentialjob functions that
require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional
information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation
will be provided by each hiring department. -
Keywords: Duke Health, Chapel Hill , Respiratory Therapist, Healthcare , Durham, North Carolina
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