Respiratory Care Practitioner Applicant (#TH5350)
$26.64-$32.38 Hourly / $4,617.58-$5,612.70 Monthly / $55,411.07-$67,352.50 Yearly

Under immediate supervision, administers respiratory therapy treatments to patients as ordered by a physician; and does related or other work as required in accordance with Rule 3, Section 3 of the Civil Service Rules.

This is the trainee class in the Respiratory Care Practitioner series. An employee in this class is being trained to administer a wide variety of respiratory therapy treatments utilizing technical skills.

• Sets up and operates respiratory equipment and apparatus in the administration of respiratory therapy treatment as prescribed by a physician.
• Learns to operate 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.
• Learns to perform screening pulmonary function tests.
• Assists cardiac arrest team, when needed, by supplying oxygen, performing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation or artificial respiration or securing and maintaining respiration equipment.
• Reads patients' charts and checks transcribed orders against those of the physician.
• Reports to immediate supervisor any unsafe practices or irregular occurrences related to work.

Licenses and Certificates: Possession of work permit 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 upon the human body; care and operation of equipment used in respiratory therapy.

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

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; Frequency of Lifting-Frequent lifting of 5 to 30 lbs.; occasional lifting of 30 to 70 lbs., and restraining, lifting/turning heavy objects or people; Visual Requirements-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 Factors-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.