UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh is hiring a Full-Time Respiratory Therapist, Senior to support the Transport Team with flight and ground transportation. This position will work two 24-hour shifts. The Transport Team Respiratory Therapist, Senior initiates and administers all levels of respiratory care to patients with cardiovascular diseases and dysfunctions and administers care for the prevention of such dysfunctions and diseases. The transport therapist will maintain skills and knowledge sufficient to provide safe, effective and appropriate care to all ages of patients including neonates, infants, toddlers, children, adolescents and adults. Responsibilities: + Collaborates with the transport nurse regarding all resources and decision making to provide a safe environment for patient and crew. + Maintains knowledge of the safety procedures for all types of vehicles utilized. + Calculates the medical gas needs for each trip to ensure safe transport. + Shares role of safety officer with the transport nurse on all helicopter and fixed wing flights. + Utilizes effective communication skills and conveys and supports the mission of CHP with referring hospital staff, EMS providers, multiple disciplines, and members of the organization. + Demonstrates critical thinking skills (in coordination with the Team Leader) regarding patient care. + Under the direct supervision of the team leader or RN, may assist in preparing and/or administering intravenous fluids including volume expanders. + In collaboration with transport RN, recognizes and manages patients with respiratory illnesses and/or airway compromise. + Facilitates and initiates a plan of care based on protocols and standards of care. + Communicates results to transport physician who may be remote from the field. + In collaboration with RN, participates in deciding if CHP physician presence is needed during transport. + Functions as an integral team member. + Assesses patients, follows written protocols, and communicates with the team leader, referring staff and CHP. + Contributes to the formation of a plan of care. + In coordination with the team leader, exercises independent judgment when sudden clinical changes occur. + Effectively deals with parents and referring hospital staff. + Able to adapt equipment used in multiple environments, operates, troubleshoots and maintains multiple fixed (hospital) and portable (D, E, M, and H cylinders) medical gas systems, including liquid oxygen and cascade oxygen arrangements. + Assesses and interprets both clinical and laboratory data pertaining to the physiologic status of the patient at the time of initial transfer request. + Prepares, maintains, and operates mechanical ventilators and specialty gas systems (Nitric oxide and Heliox). + Effectively troubleshoots and adapts to changes in patient condition, environmental and mechanical changes. + Determines appropriate aerosolized medications utilizing written protocols and guidelines while ensuring effectively delivers medication. + Implements evidence based practice initiatives and serves as a role model to CHP respiratory therapists relative to such practice. + Promotes research by examining patient/family outcomes and seeking opportunities to find better ways to provide care. + Performs advanced procedures including intravenous/intraosseous access, intubation, bag/mask ventilation, management of the difficult airway including the use of advanced surgical airway, hand jet ventilation, and Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA). + Draws arterial, venous, and capillary blood gases, interprets their values, and determines and implements appropriate ventilator adjustment(s) considering age, diagnosis, and clinical status and established protocols. + Initiates and adjust mechanical ventilation, surfactant replacement therapy, and specialty gas therapy based on protocols and accepted standards of care in the transport environment when the CHP physician is remote from the referring facility or transport field. + Graduate of a Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) approved respiratory program + Associate's degree is required + Bachelor's degree is preferred + Minimum 2 years pediatric OR neonatal critical care experience in order to acquire an advanced comprehensive of physiology, pathophysiology and psychology of the child. + NALS, PALS, and ACLS within 1 year of hire. + Certification for Neonatal/Pediatric Transport (C-NPT) certification + Minimum 3 years of Neonatal/Pediatric Transport experience + Must successfully complete 1 approved project during each annual performance review period + Must attain a performance rating of Solid/Strong/Good or above on last 2 consecutive annual performance reviews + Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania required + Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) required + Respiratory therapists who receive their RRT credential from the NBRC after July 1, 2002 are required to maintain certification under the NBRC requirements + Special skills and abilities required: + Analytical ability necessary to assess and evaluate patient's condition and utilize professional judgment in planning and providing comprehensive care to patients according to the child's functional development level. + Ability to integrate patient related data from various sources into the plan of care and appraisal of condition. + Completion of requirements needed to function in the transport therapist advanced clinical role. This includes didactic, clinical and OR rotation. + Ability to successfully complete a clinical written test with 85% or better competency. + Successfully complete Operating Room clinical rotation for airway management. + Knowledge to perform the following procedures: endotracheal intubation, advanced surgical airway (cricothyrotomy) intraosseous cannulation. Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate with patients, families, medical personnel. Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances: + CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire + Basic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) + Osteopathic Respiratory Care OR Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP) + Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) + Act 33 with renewal + Act 34 with renewal + Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal _UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran_