SENIOR RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONER

Position/Program Information

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES

EXAM NUMBER: Y5589C

OPEN COMPETITIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY

ORIGINAL POSTING DATE: 10/13/2009

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS A REBULLETIN TO UPDATE THE EXAMINATION CONTENT INFORMATION.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES:

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services (DHS) is the second largest municipal health system in the nation. DHS operates as an integrated health system, operating 25 health centers and four acute care hospitals, in addition to providing health care to youth in the juvenile justice system and inmates in the LA County jails. Across the network of DHS' directly operated clinical sites and through partnerships with community-based clinics, DHS cares for about 600,000 unique patients each year, employs over 23,000 staff, and has an annual operating budget of 6.9 billion.

Through academic affiliations with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Sciences (CDU), DHS hospitals are training sites for physicians completing their Graduate Medical Education in nearly every medical specialty and subspecialty. In addition, to its direct clinical services, DHS also runs the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agency and the County's 911 emergency response system, as well as Housing for Health and the Office of Diversion and Re-entry, each with a critical role in connecting vulnerable populations, including those released from correctional and institutional settings, to supportive housing.

MISSION:

To advance the health of our patients and our communities by providing extraordinary care.

DEFINITION:
Provides a full range of respiratory care to patients with severe pulmonary complications in critical care areas.

Essential Job Functions

• Assesses patients' overall cardiopulmonary status by inspection, palpitation, percussion, auscultation, and patient or guardian/significant other interview; documents patients' vital signs.
• Performs the full range of ventilatory care services as prescribed by a physician, including selecting, setting up, and operating a variety of devices such as medication delivery units, humidifiers, positive-pressure breathing machines, and continuous mechanical ventilators in critical care units.
• Administers complex therapies, such as Inhaled Nitric Oxide (INO therapy), high frequency ventilation, and heliox therapy, and performs Non-Bronchoscopic mini-BAL procedures to provide a non-bronchoscopic method of attaining a sample of bonchoalveolar fluid in the mechanically ventilated patient for the diagnosis of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP).
• Performs arterial punctures, intubations and other procedures as ordered by a physician and designated according to the facility's policies and procedures.
• Assists the physician with the insertion of tracheostomy tubes, and may perform reinsertion of tubes, as needed.
• Administers chest physiotherapy to patients using postural drainage and/or chest wall percussion and vibration techniques by hand or by mechanical devices.
• Performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation in life threatening situations, which includes establishment of an airway using an endotracheal tube, performance of chest compressions, and the application of ventilatory support.
• Monitors patients undergoing respiratory care, reporting changes in condition such as significant variations in heart beat or breathing to medical or nursing personnel, making recommendations when a change in care is indicated and recording relevant information in the patient's chart, including effectiveness of procedures, techniques, and equipment.
• Interprets results of blood gas analysis and notifies physician when blood gas deficiencies indicate a need for a change in treatment.
• Instructs patients and their guardian/significant other in various breathing techniques.
• Provides on-the-job instruction on care techniques to lower level Respiratory Care Practitioners and acts as a preceptor for respiratory care students, as directed.
• Provides complete unit-based shift reports to staff at shift change.
• Performs equipment troubleshooting.

Requirements

Selection Requirements:
Option I: An Associate's degree in respiratory therapy from an accredited college -or- a certificate of completion of an approved two-year training program in respiratory therapy* -AND- one year of experience at the level of a Respiratory Care Practitioner** administering basic respiratory therapy care.

Option II:Two years of experience as a Respiratory Care Practitioner I*** in the service of the County of Los Angeles, one of which must have included assignments in critical care areas such as adult, pediatric, and/or neonatal ICU.
Other Requirements:
A certificate of completion of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)**** training -AND- Depending on area of assignment, positions may require one of the following specialty certifications:

• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) Certificate****
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Certificate****

License:
A current California State Respiratory Care Practitioner's License issued by the Respiratory Care Board of California.****
A valid California Class C Driver License or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

Physical Class III - Moderate: Includes standing or walking most of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching; includes working on irregular surfaces, occasionally lifting objects weighting over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

Desirable Qualifications:

• A Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) certification from National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• A Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy from an accredited college or university.

Additional Information

Special Requirement Information
In order to receive credit for any college course work, or any type of college degree, such as a Bachelor's or Master's degree, or for completion of a certificate program, you must include a legible copy of the official diploma, official transcripts, or official letter from the accredited institution which shows the area of specialization; or official certificates with your application within 15 calendar days of filing online.

If credit is given to coursework, transcripts must indicate completion of the required coursework.

*Applicants who expect to qualify under Option I must attach a legible photocopy of the "Associate's degree in respiratory therapy -or- a certificate of completion of a two-year training program in respiratory therapy" to the application within 15 calendar days of filing online.

**Respiratory Care Practitioner provides basic respiratory care, including continuous ventilation, to patients with respiratory disorders or deficiencies.

***Applicants who expect to qualify under Option II through experience as a Respiratory Care Practitioner I, must have held that County payroll title for the required time. No out-of-class experience will be accepted.

****A legible photocopy of your current State of California Respiratory Care Practitioner's License issued by the Respiratory Care Board of California must be attached to your application within 15 calendar days of filing.

All required licenses and certifications must be active and unrestricted or your application will not be accepted.

Special Information
Appointees may be required to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

Available Shift
Any

Examination Content
This examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience based upon application information and Desirable Qualifications weighted at 100%.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on the examination in order to be placed on the eligible register.

Notification Letters and other correspondences will be sent electronically to the email address provided on the application. It is important that applicants provide a valid email address. Please add jsaldana @dhs.lacounty.gov and info@governmentjobs.com to your email address book and to the list of approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as SPAM/JUNK mail.

Vacancy Information
The resulting eligible register from this examination will be used to fill vacancies throughout the Department of Health Services as they occur.

Eligibility Information
Applications will be processed on an "as-received" basis and those receiving a passing score will be promulgated to the eligible register accordingly.

The names of candidates receiving a passing score on the examination will be added to the eligible register and will appear in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months following the date of eligibility.

No person may compete in this examination more than once every twelve (12) months.

Application and Filing Information

APPLICATIONS MUST BE FILED ONLINE ONLY. APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY U.S. MAIL, FAX OR IN PERSON WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" tab for this posting. You can also track the status of your application using this website.

All information is subject to verification. We may reject your application at any time during the examination and hiring process, including after appointment has been made. Falsification of any information may result in disqualification or rescission of appointment.

This examination will remain open until the needs of the service are met. Application filing may be suspended at any time with or without advance notice.

Fill out your application completely. The acceptance of your application depends on whether you have clearly shown that you meet the requirements. Provide any relevant education, training, and experience in the spaces provided so we can evaluate your qualifications for the job. For each job held, give the name and address of your employer, your job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, description of work performed, and salary earned. If your application is incomplete, it will be rejected.

Applications electronically received after 5:00 p.m., PST, on the last day of filing will not be accepted.

NOTE: If you are unable to attach required documents, you must e-mail the documents to the exam analyst, within 15 calendar days of filing online. Please include the exam number and exam title.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: All applicants must enter a valid social security number at the time of filing. Entering anything other than a valid social security number (i.e. 000-00-0000, 111-11-1111, etc.) will result in an automatic rejection of your application.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application online using their own user ID and password. Using a family member's or friend's user ID and password may erase a candidate's original application record.

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Jaquelyne Saldana, Exam Analyst
jsaldana@dhs.lacounty.gov (Best way to contact due to telework)
(213) 288-7000

ADA Coordinator Phone
323-914-7111

California Relay Services Phone
800-735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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