Cardiopulmonary Respiratory Therapist
Waimea, Hawaii
Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital

Respiratory Therapist (Cardiopulmonary) - Contract in Waimea, Hawaii

Position Overview

• Work in the respiratory therapy unit of a hospital providing independent clinical respiratory care.
• Treat patients with respiratory diseases and disorders, including critically ill, pediatric, and neonatal patients.
• May work shifts including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Requires considerable independent clinical judgment in applying respiratory care according to physician orders.

Key Responsibilities

• Life Support Systems:
  Initiate, monitor, and maintain mechanical ventilation (e.g., IMV, IDV, PEEP, CPAP, BiPAP). Perform emergency intubation, arterial punctures, ventilator adjustments, and airway management including tracheostomy and endotracheal tube care.

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation:
  Participate as part of the resuscitation team, including airway maintenance, manual ventilation, arterial blood gas sampling, and mechanical ventilation initiation.

• Patient Assessment and Consultation:
  Evaluate respiratory status using clinical data, lab results, chest x-rays, and vital signs. Recommend treatment methods, medications, equipment, and therapy duration to physicians.

• Treatment Administration:
  Provide age-specific respiratory treatments, prepare and administer medications via nebulizers, perform chest physiotherapy (postural drainage, percussion, vibration), and monitor patient responses.

• Pulmonary Function Testing:
  Operate equipment to measure vital capacity, forced vital capacity, inspiratory and expiratory flow rates for diagnostic purposes.

• Pulse Oximetry:
  Perform spot checks of oxygen saturation, interpret waveforms, and maintain equipment.

• Patient and Family Education:
  Instruct patients and families on respiratory treatments, breathing exercises, aerosol therapy, and postural drainage.

• Safety and Environment:
  Adhere to infection control and safety policies, maintain clean and well-stocked patient care areas, and report unsafe equipment.

• Additional Clinical Services:
  Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation teaching, EEG electrode placement and monitoring, and polysomnography for sleep studies.

• Other Duties:
  Clean and sterilize respiratory equipment, perform minor equipment repairs, maintain records, and participate in training programs.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Respiratory Therapist license in Hawaii
• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a Respiratory Therapist
• Recent Respiratory Therapist experience within the last year

Contract Details

• Contract length: Approximately 13 weeks.
• Location: Waimea, Hawaii.
• Employment type: Contract.
• Holiday work may be required (New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day).

Additional Notes

• Candidates should research housing options prior to applying.
• Compliance documentation and arrival details must be communicated to the facility upon confirmation.
• Strict confidentiality of all patient and facility information is required.