Senior Respiratory Therapist

Qualifications

• Eligible for and maintains licensure to practice as a Respiratory Therapist in the Province of Manitoba
• Minimum 5 years in the last 10 years experience as a Respiratory Therapist
• Certification in Advance Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support or Neonatal Resuscitation Program; preferred certification as an Instructor in at least one
• Certification as a Certified Respiratory Educator or Certified Asthma and/or COPD Educator preferred
• Proficiency with Microsoft programs (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint), as well as Internet applications and other Information Technology
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to work independently
• Demonstrated problem solving and decision making skills
• Demonstrated flexibility to facilitate changes in techniques and procedures in a changing environment
• Demonstrated knowledge and competence of skills and concepts related to the position
• Demonstrated communication skills
• Ability to respect and promote confidentiality
• Ability to perform the duties of the position on a regular basis
• Ability to respect and promote a culturally diverse population
• Ability to work effectively and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, clients and within interdisciplinary team
  
  

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Care Team Manager, the Respiratory Therapist is responsible for the general operation of the Respiratory Therapy department. Working closely with other members of the Respiratory Therapy team, the Senior Respiratory Therapist provides clinical supervision of respiratory therapists and support staff and acts as a role model and leader to ensure patient safety and optimal care.

Overview

RESPONSIBILITIES:

MAIN FUNCTION

• Overseeing the daily clinical service delivery and environmental/operational issues in the designated service area to ensure optimum client care in a safe therapeutic environment.
• Providing guidance to respiratory therapists and support staff within the designated service area through clinical leadership, mentoring, supervision, education, evaluation, and research.
• Contributing to the delivery of quality respiratory therapy services by examining, developing, refining and evaluating the body of knowledge and clinical practices and assisting in program planning and development.
• Assisting in performance appraisals and recruitment, as well as coordinating clinical work schedules, caseloads and service rotations.
• Maintaining a partial clinical caseload within the established standards of care.
• supervises site staff.
• Ensures current licensure and registration of staff.
• Ensures the timely resolution of the day-to-day caseload coverage issues resulting from staff absences due to illness, vacation or continuing education.
• Coordinates referrals and manages caseload for the service area including scheduling, developing rotations and managing wait lists.
• Utilizes workload measurement information to assist in utilization management and programming.
• Serves as the initial contact person for staff to handle human resource issues.
• Serves as the initial contact person for clients, family members, care providers and visitors to help resolve any concern with the service provision in the designated service area.
• Provides general orientation of new staff and supervision of staff within the designated service area.
• Assists with the recruitment, interviewing and hiring of new staff.
• Monitors staff performance and communicates to the manager, issues which may result in disciplinary action; participates in the disciplinary process as appropriate.
• Assists with the completion of performance appraisals.
• Coordinates equipment inventory and preventative maintenance processes; evaluates and makes recommendations regarding products, supplies and equipment that pertain to the delivery of respiratory therapy services.
• May be responsible for the day-to-day management of the site budget in the absence of a site manager.
• Provides input into the discipline specific and program team policy development.
• Implements site and program policies in the absence of a Site Manager or as delegated.
• Follows policies and procedures as outlined in the facility manuals.
• Represents the designated service area on various committees within the facility and region if necessary.
• Leads the clinical service support activities, such as quality improvement, standards development and risk management.
• Leads the development, revision, implementation and evaluation of standards for respiratory therapy staff and students in the designated service area.
• Ensures that the respiratory therapy practice standards are consistent with the facility’s mission, vision, strategic direction and goals and objectives.
• Promotes good interpersonal relationships by modelling professional behavior and practice
• Assists staff in identifying clinical program needs and priorities.
• Facilitates program development to respond to clinical service and client needs.
• Initiates and participates in the development and implementation of goals and objectives for respiratory therapy service within the designated area.
• Participates in the evaluation of clinical services, innovations, changes and outcomes.
• Participates in the development of education programs by assessing needs, planning, implementing and evaluating professional education and training.
• Provides input and direction for the development of client instructional materials and professional presentations in the designated service area.
• Acts as a consultant to outside agencies, other health care professionals and students with regard to clinical issues in the designated service area.
• Functions in a clinical role and is responsible for client-centered practice for a defined caseload; provides a full range of clinical services as defined in the Respiratory Therapy position description.
• In the absence of a Site Manager or as delegated:
• Ensures statistics and management reports are compiled and distributed.
• Contributes to the regional program process of establishing targets and benchmarks.
• Implements program quality improvement initiatives at the site.
• Develops and manages the discipline specific quality plans consistent with the overall regional plan.
• Participates on accreditation teams as requested.
• Assists in the review and follow up of occurrence reports and implements changes in service or practice where necessary.
• Recognizes limitations in knowledge, judgment and skills and takes appropriate action to compensate for any limitations identified.
• Maintains and updates professional skills and knowledge base through self-examination and the integration of new knowledge acquired through continuing education and professional development opportunities.
• Demonstrates personal growth and development in the areas of clinical reasoning and the use of evidence-based practice.
• Fosters and supports an environment of clinical enquiry and research.
• Supports the development and implementation of discipline specific and interdisciplinary research studies within the service area.
• Facilitates program evaluation and outcome studies within service area.
• Ensures personal and client safety at all times.
• Contributes to a safe work environment and culture of safety.
• Maintains knowledge of emergency procedures and acts upon them when necessary.
• Reports any hazardous conditions and equipment and acts to address when appropriate.
• Makes recommendations re: new and replacement equipment and supplies.
• Adheres to all workplace health and safety regulations, policies and safe work practices.
• Completes all mandatory safety education sessions and recertifications e.g. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), Routine Practices.
• Reports any untoward incident to the Manager.
• Seeks out, integrates and values as a partner, the input and ongoing involvement of each patient/client/resident/family/community when designing and implementing care and services.
• Understands one’s own role and the roles of other health providers to appropriately establish and achieve patient/client/resident/family/community goals.
• Applies the principles of cultural proficiency, team dynamics and group processes to enable quality patient care and effective interprofessional collaboration to emerge in everyday practice.
• Applies leadership principles that support a collaborative practice model including shared decision-making and accountability for one’s own actions.
• Consistently communicates in a respectful, responsive, and responsible person-centered manner.
• Engages self and others, including the patient/client/resident/family/community in a positive manner to constructively address disagreements as they arise.
• Engages in relationships with care, dignity and respect regardless of race, ethnicity, culture, ability or language proficiency.
• Assists in the resolution of professional practice issues or concerns.
• Other duties as assigned