General Summary

Under general supervision of the Education and Clinical Coordinators, physicians, and guest lecturers the respiratory intern will observe in the classroom setting a variety of routine technical procedures during department orientation. This orientation period will allow time to gain knowledge of effective evaluation and treatment of individuals with cardiopulmonary functions threatened or impaired by developmental defects, the aging process, physical injury, or disease. The intern period is to serve as a means to provide effective respiratory care department orientation, while ascertaining the overall competency of the new graduate.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

Under general supervision of the Respiratory Care Education Coordinator the Respiratory Intern will observe the following work being performed by staff assigned to the Respiratory Technician and Respiratory Therapist job classifications.

• A variety of respiratory care treatments given to specific patient populations (adult, pediatric, or neonatal).
• Explanation of treatments to patient and/or family before performing.
• Observes physical signs and symptoms, general behavior, general physical response to respiratory care procedures. Collaboration of therapists with physicians regarding therapeutic treatment plans to determine whether initiation, modification, or discontinuation of the treatment regimen is warranted.
• Termination of patient treatment upon notice of patient discomfort, troubled medical status, or inability to accept treatment.
• Observation of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) procedures, including, airway management, manual ventilation, and cardiac compressions as needed.
• Observes the therapist as they administer therapeutic and diagnostic gases (exclusive of general anesthesia), bronchodilator treatments, and chest physiotherapy, aerosolized medication treatments in accordance with departmental procedures, as directed by a physician. Additionally, they will observe the therapist delivering oxygen and humidified air through a variety of devises to reverse and prevent tissue hypoxia, treat arterial hypoxemia, decrease the work of breathing and decrease myocardial work.
• Observes therapist physician interaction as they assist the physician with non-surgical insertion, maintenance and removal of artificial airways, as requested.
• Watches the technique of suctioning of the patients artificial and nasal/oral airways with the use of a sterile disposable catheter inserted into the airway.
• Learns age-specific version(s) of respiratory techniques when working with adult/pediatric/neonatal population.
• Observation of mechanical ventilation and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to critical care patients, witnessing while the therapist adjusts ventilation and CPAP under the direct supervision of a physician.
• Observes the effectiveness of mechanical ventilation and other therapeutic interventions in the critically ill patient by learning the interpretation of chest x-rays, and blood gas results. Observation of the therapist as they observe the patients appearance, respiration rate and oxygen saturation, and notifying doctor as required.