Respiratory Nurse for Skilled Nursing Facility

 

Position Title: Respiratory Nurse

 

Department: Nursing

Reports to: Director of Nursing/Respiratory Director

Job Summary

The Respiratory Nurse delivers focused respiratory care to residents, with a primary emphasis on administering, monitoring, and documenting the use of incentive spirometry. This role plays a key part in reducing pulmonary complications, and promotes optimal lung function through direct clinical intervention, resident education, and collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.

 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Residents Rights

·         Knows and respects patient rights.

·         Ensures protected health information is kept confidential.

·         Reports complaints made by patients to supervisor.

·         Reports allegations of patient abuse, neglect and/or misappropriation of patient property.

Safety and Sanitation

·         Follows established safety policies and procedures.

·         Observes the safety needs of patients as indicated in care plan.

·         Wears and/or uses safety equipment and supplies when indicated and properly trained to use.

·         Ensure infection control standards are upheld when handling and cleaning IS equipment.

Staff Development

·         Attends and participates in scheduled in-service training, educational classes and meetings to maintain current certification as applicable and as managed by regulatory agencies and company policies.

·         Attend facility meetings including daily weekly clinical IDT’s and reports to QAPI as scheduled.

Key Responsibilities

·         Initiate Incentive spirometry therapy per facility protocol and physician orders.

·         Perform initial and ongoing respiratory assessments for residents using IS.

·         Provide direct education and hands-on training to residents on proper IS technique, ensuring compliance and effectiveness.

·         Deliver incentive spirometry care to residents with physician orders, in coordination with the nursing team.

·         Reinforce and re-educate as needed to promote consistent and correct usage.

·         Monitor compliance with IS therapy and identify any barriers to participation.

·         Report resident concerns, noncompliance, or declining respiratory function to Director of Nursing and Respiratory Coordinator promptly.

·         Performs other duties as assigned.

Documentation & Compliance

·         Document assessments, interventions, education, and resident compliance in accordance with facility policy and regulatory requirements.

·         Ensure accurate recording of IS use, frequency, and outcomes.

·         Participate in care development plans for residents receiving IS therapy.

·         Assist in quality improvement tracking related to respiratory outcomes and IS compliance.

Qualifications & Experience

·         LPN/RN with valid state licensure.

·         CPR certification required.

·         Ability to work independently while following established protocols and directives.

·         Strong communication, teaching, and documentation skills.

·         Understanding of respiratory conditions such as COPD, Pneumonia, CHF, and post-operative care.

·         Committed to reducing pulmonary complications and supporting lung health through consistent, evidence-based incentive spirometry practices.