Respiratory Therapist at Quality Support Services

We are hiring Respiratory Therapist(s) for contract positions for the US Department of Health in Gallup, NM.  Positions last a minimum of 13 weeks, with the possibility to last up to two years.  The pay rate is $26.50 per hour.

DUTIES and REQUIREMENTS include the following:

• Oxygen administration using all available devices, such as nasal cannula, simple masks, ventri-masks, partial rebreather, aerosol mask, oxyhoods, infant incubators, etc.
• Basic life support of all age specific patients.
• Initial set-up of ventilators.
• Ventilator management of adult, pediatric, neonatal and geriatric patients.
• Ventilation of patients with known diseases such as COPD, asthma, pneumonia, adult respiratory distress syndrome, etc.  
• Thorough documentation of ventilator-supported patients will be completed every two hours, including the ventilator flow sheet.
• Assisting with intubation of patients of all ages.
• Proper care of endotracheal tubes and trach tubes, including the use of a cuff monitor.
• Weaning patients from ventilators and recording such measurements.
• Extubation of patients of all age groups.
• Knowledge of Respiratory pharmacology, including knowledge of all respiratory medications, their positive effects, their adverse effects, and proper doses.
• Metered dose inhaler/spacer administration, knowledge of the effect of metered dose medications, frequencies of administration and duration of medication's effects.
• BiPAP/CPAP administration and proper fit of nasal masks and full facemasks.
• Proper suctioning technique of patients on ventilators and patients that are not on ventilators who need nasopharyngeal/oral suctioning.
• Comfort care to patients who are nearing their time of death.
• Obtaining sputum samples either naturally, by induction, or by suction.
• Performing arterial punctures, being mindful of proper technique and transporting blood products properly.
• Analyzing and interpreting arterial blood gases.
• Running venous blood gases.
• Having complete understanding, knowledge, and application of chest physiotherapy involving postural drainage using percussion and vibration.
• Peak flow monitoring of patients.
• Proper use of oximeter and capnograph on all age groups.
• Performing electrocardiograms on all age groups, documenting patient information, pulling files and filing EKGs post-interpretation.
• Maintaining all respiratory equipment for future use by testing, cleaning and calibrating.
• Adhering to JC and CLIA standards in care of patients, equipment, the blood gas laboratory and any other laboratories operating under GIMC.
• Clearly educating patients and families, followed by clear documentation of procedures.
• Must be knowledgeable and capable of performing in trauma situations, life and death situations, situations with critically ill patients, high risk patients, and in case of disasters.
• Must abide by all JC standards for full assessments, monitoring the effects of a patient's response to care given and all information pertaining to the care of the patient.
• Must fulfill all physician's documented orders for all patients who fall under the care of Respiratory Therapy, unless the order could harm the patient.
• Must be capable of performing Respiratory duties in an in-patient and out-patient setting.