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Respiratory Therapist
UCI Series Concepts
Class Specifications - H.25
Respiratory Therapist V - 9045
Respiratory Therapist IV - 9046
Respiratory Therapist III - 9047
Respiratory Therapist II - 9048
Registered Respiratory Therapist I - 9049
Respiratory Therapist I - 9050
April, 1978
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SERIES CONCEPT
Respiratory Therapists under medical direction assist in the evaluation
of pulmonary dysfunction in patients; provide care, treatment and
rehabilitation to patients with pulmonary disorders by means of
respiratory therapy, physical therapy, and ventilatory assistance; and
perform other related duties as required.
Incumbents administer therapeutic gasses, aerosols and humidity
utilizing a variety of techniques and equipment; administer pressure
breathing and chest physical therapy; perform cardiopulmonary
resuscitation; monitor and measure such parameters as pulmonary and
cardiovascular function, blood gas values, and oxygen concentration;
draw arterial and capillary blood gasses; perform intubations upon
request from a physician; assist with bronchoscopies; service and
maintain equipment; demonstrate equipment and techniques to trainees,
nurses, physicians, and other hospital personnel; record therapy
services; prepare patient charges; evaluate equipment and supplies; and
may requisition and/or purchase equipment and supplies.
CLASS CONCEPTS
Respiratory Therapist V
Under general medical direction, incumbents plan, organize and direct a
large and complex respiratory therapy program which typically has at
least 15 full-time-equivalent Respiratory Therapists. Programs of this
size and complexity usually provide 24-hour, 7-day a week service and
offer a training program.
Typically at this level, incumbents are assigned responsibility for
planning the budget and staffing requirements; purchase of equipment and
supplies; control of expenditures; evaluation of on-going programs; and
planning long-range goals and objectives. Work is reviewed in terms of
meeting over-all goals and objectives.
Respiratory Therapist IV
Under general direction, incumbents (a) in a large and complex unit are
assigned continuing responsibility for the management of a special
program or functional area such as therapeutics, training, equipment and
maintenance, or (b) function as the first assistant to the Respiratory
Therapist V, normally with supervisory responsibility over other
supervising Respiratory Therapists, or (c) plan, organize and direct a
respiratory therapy program which typically has less than 15 full-time
Respiratory Therapists and limited day and shift coverage.
At this level, program or unit supervisors coordinate the inter-shift
and intra-department activities within a unit typically having
seven-day coverage, and more than a one-shift operation; serve as the
coordinator and chief instructor for a Respiratory Therapy Training
Program; or maintain and modify equipment, and supervise and train
students and staff in the operation and simple maintenance of
respiratory therapy equipment, and make technical recommendations
regarding the purchase of new equipment.
As the first assistant to the Respiratory Therapist V, incumbents
typically are assigned responsibility for broad administrative areas and
may conduct surveys and studies, make cost analysis, provide staff work
for special projects and supervise Respiratory Therapist III's.
Respiratory Therapist III
Under direction, incumbents are assigned continuing responsibility over
a group of Respiratory Therapists (usually a shift) engaged in treating
patients.
Typically at this level, incumbents maintain records, statistics and
charges; schedule and evaluate staff; assist with the teaching of
trainee Respiratory Therapists; administer treatments; and are assigned
continuing responsibility for the quality of respiratory services being
provided on the shift. The class may also be used as the full-time
assistant to the coordinator or chief instructor of a Respiratory
Therapy Program, usually having 20 or more students.
Respiratory Therapist II
Under direction, incumbents are assigned regular recurring supervisory
responsibility for a shift during the absence of the shift supervisor
for a seven-day a week operation.
Typically at this level, incumbents are assigned shift responsibility on
the average of 2.5 days per week, and perform the duties of a
journeylevel Respiratory Therapist, when not serving in a supervisory
capacity.
Registered Respiratory Therapist I
Under general supervision and in addition to performing the full range
of respiratory therapy duties as outlined in the Series Concept,
registered incumbents are typically assigned the most difficult patient
care cases; participate to a greater degree in training students and new
therapists; and assist in developing and refining patient care
techniques.
Examples of the more difficult assignments which might be found at this
level include but are not limited to neonatal and pediatric care,
pulmonary rehabilitation, and adult critical care.
Respiratory Therapist I
Under supervision, unregistered incumbents perform the full range of
respiratory service as outlined in the Series Concept.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Respiratory Therapist V
Graduation from an approved school* of respiratory therapy; registration
as a Respiratory Therapist as determined by the National Board of
Respiratory Therapy; five years of progressively responsible experience
including two years of supervisory experience; or an equivalent
combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities
essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the
position.
Respiratory Therapist IV
Graduation from an approved school* of respiratory therapy; registration
as a Respiratory Therapist as determined by the National Board of
Respiratory Therapy; three years of progressively responsible
experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
and knowledges and abilities essential to the successful performance
of the duties assigned to the position.
Respiratory Therapist III
Graduation from an approved school* of respiratory therapy; registration
as a Respiratory Therapist as determined by the National Board of
Respiratory Therapy; two years of experience; or an equivalent
combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities
essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the
position.
Respiratory Therapist II
Graduation from an approved school* of respiratory therapy; registration
as a Respiratory Therapist as determined by the National Board of
Respiratory Therapy; one year of experience; or an equivalent
combination of education and experience; and knowledges and abilities
essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the
position.
Registered Respiratory Therapist I
Graduation from an approved school* of respiratory therapy; registration
as a Respiratory Therapist as determined by the National Board of
Respiratory Therapy; and knowledges and abilities essential to the
successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.
Respiratory Therapist I
Graduation from an approved school* of respiratory therapy; eligibility
for certification as a Respiratory Therapy Technician as determined by
the National Board of Respiratory Therapy; and knowledges and abilities
essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the
position.
*An "approved school" is one approved by the American Medical
Association Council on Medical Education for Training of Respiratory
Therapists or one supported by the Joint Review Committee for
Respiratory Therapy Education.
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