PRN Respiratory Therapist – Pulmonology

Join Cleveland Clinic Tradition Hospital’s team of caregivers that provide top-quality patient care to the Port St. Lucie area. Opening its doors in 2013 and expanding in 2017, this state-of-the-art acute care facility has 177 patient rooms and offers a wide variety of services to meet community needs. Here, you will be supported as you follow your dreams and find where you belong, here at Tradition Hospital.  

As a Respiratory Therapist, you will support a diverse patient population, with many managing chronic respiratory disorders, cancers and various concerning symptoms at both the Tradition and Martin Health Hospitals. You will assess and manage pulmonary conditions, respond to Code Blues, draw and analyze arterial blood gases, assist with Bronchoscopy duties and more. In this role, combining your skills with a compassionate and understanding mindset can make a difference in the lives of patients and their families.

A caregiver in this position works varying shifts from 6:30PM — 7:00AM, with weekend requirements.  

A caregiver who excels in this role will:  

• Provide care to adults/elderly considering assessment and interview techniques identifying psychosocial, physical, and educational needs. 
• Maintain continuous ventilation of patients on mechanical ventilators (invasive and noninvasive). 
• Monitor patient's ventilatory status with spirometers, pressure gauges and chest auscultation, draw and analyze arterial blood gases and measure respiratory exchange. 
• Wean patients from continuous ventilation utilizing established procedures. 
• Perform cardiopulmonary assessment to evaluate patient's respiratory status. 
• Analyze, record, and report results such as arterial blood gases, oxygenation studies, pulmonary function tests, hemodynamic monitoring parameters, etc. 
• Recommend modification to therapy or implementation of treatments. 
• Maintain airway care by performing and instructing proper tracheal instillations, tracheal aspiration, and nasotracheal aspiration. 
• Perform invasive procedures such as arterial puncture, tracheostomy tube changes as ordered by the physician. 
• Assist the physician in bedside and/or scheduled Bronchoscopy procedures. 
• Perform bedside Spirometry procedures and/or more complete Pulmonary Function studies with appropriate training (clinic staff). 
• Perform basic respiratory therapies such as medicated aerosols, oxygen therapy, nitric oxide administration, humidity/aerosol, bronchopulmonary hygiene, hyperinflation techniques, pulse oximetry while verifying physician order and utilizing appropriate treatment guidelines. 
• Observe and respond to adverse patient reactions to therapy or otherwise and initiates/assists in Rapid Response and Code Blue (CPR) situations. 
• Act as a resource for the pulmonologist for patient education and troubleshooting of therapeutic issues and training Residents (RRT credentialed therapists unless approved otherwise by the Departmental Director). 

Minimum qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• Graduate from an AMA approved Respiratory Care Program
• State of Florida Department of Health License Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Basic Life Support (BLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) (Hospital RT staff) Certifications through the American Heart Association (AHA)
• Up to date CEU requirements
• One year of clinical experience OR newly licensed personnel for entry level positions

Preferred qualifications for the ideal future caregiver include:  

• Membership of the Florida Society of Respiratory Care
• Membership to the American Association for Respiratory Care

Our caregivers continue to create the best outcomes for our patients across each of our facilities. Click the link and see how we’re dedicated to providing what matters most to you: https://jobs.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-2/     

Physical Requirements:

• Requires good manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
• Requires normal hearing and vision or corrected to normal range.
• May require sitting, standing and walking for extensive periods of time.
• This position requires proficiency in treatment of respiratory disorders for inpatient and outpatients with various media, i.e. oxygen, therapeutic gases, inhaled medications and positive pressure devices.
• Interpretive skills frequent interactive and consultative associations are inherent in this position.
• The ability to retrieve, communicate or otherwise present information in a written, auditory or visual fashion is essential.
• Physical Duties: Moderate to heavy lifting and positioning of patients.
• Moderate pushing and pulling of equipment.
• Working Conditions: 100% air-conditioned.
• Moderate risk of exposure to blood or air-borne pathogens.

Personal Protective Equipment:

• Follows standard precautions using personal protective equipment as required.