Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.
<ul><li>Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.</li><li>Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.</li><li>Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.</li><li>Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.</li><li>Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.</li><li>Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.</li><li>Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.</li><li>Relay blood analysis results to a physician.</li><li>Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.</li><li>Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.</li><li>Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.</li><li>Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.</li><li>Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.</li><li>Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.</li><li>Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.</li><li>Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.</li><li>Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.</li><li>Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.</li><li>Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.</li><li>Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.</li></ul>