Respiratory Care Practitioner I (#RH5351)
$35.54-$43.19 Hourly / $6,159.54-$7,486.96 Monthly / $73,914.50-$89,843.53 Yearly

Under general supervision, performs skilled respiratory therapy work in delivering treatments to patients as ordered by a physician; may give instruction to others in the proper use and care of equipment; and does related or other work as require in accordance with Rule 3 Section 3 of the Civil Service Rules.

This is the entry level in the Respiratory Care Practitioner series. An employee in this class is responsible for fully skilled administration of respiratory therapy and treatment to patients. Work may include training or giving guidance to less experienced personnel.

• Sets up and operates respiratory equipment and apparatus in the administration of respiratory therapy treatment as prescribed by a physician.
• Operates blood gas analysis equipment and reports results.
• Makes rounds to check and make operating adjustments to respiratory therapy equipment in use or on standby in patient areas; cleans assembles, maintains, and repairs equipment as needed.
• Sets up and maintains long term ventilators.
• Performs screening pulmonary function tests.
• Assists cardiac arrest team, when needed, by supplying oxygen, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation or artificial respiration or securing and maintaining respiration equipment.
• Reads patients' charts and checks transcribed orders against those of the physician.
• May check and review work of others, may train others as assigned.

Licenses/Certificates: Possession of a valid Respiratory Care Practitioner license issued by the State of California Respiratory Care Board.

Current principles, methods, and techniques of respiratory therapy; chemistry of gases used in respiratory therapy and their effect on the human body; care and operation of equipment used in respiratory therapy.

Administer a variety of skilled respiratory therapy treatments; maintain and perform minor repairs to respiratory therapy equipment and to adjust it to individual patient needs; keep records and prepare reports; follow oral and written instructions; establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, physicians co-workers and others; train and lead others.

Mobility-Frequent operation of a keyboard, standing for long periods of time, walking, pushing/pulling and bending/squatting; occasional sitting for long periods of time, operating heavy equipment, running and stair climbing; Lifting-Frequent lifting of 5 to 30 lbs.; occasional lifting of 30 to 70 lbs., and restraining, lifting/turning heavy objects or people; Visual-Constant use of overall vision, color perception, eye/hand coordination and depth perception; frequent reading/close up work and field of vision/peripheral; Dexterity-Frequent holding, reaching, grasping, repetitive motion and writing; Hearing/Talking-Frequent hearing of normal speech, hearing on the telephone/radio, talking in person and talking on the telephone; Emotional/Psychological-Constant public contact and concentration; frequent exposure to emergency situations, trauma, grief or death, decision making and working weekends/nights; occasional exposure to hazardous materials, working alone and overtime/travel; Environmental Conditions-Frequent exposure to noise; occasional exposure to dirt, dust, smoke, fumes, poor ventilation, indoor cold/heat and hazardous materials.