Respiratory Therapy Clinical Educator

Respiratory Therapy Clinical Educator (Job ID: 4561)

Respiratory Therapists (RTs) at Unity Health Toronto are front line health care providers who work both independently and as a member of many health care teams to monitor, evaluate, and treat patients with respiratory and cardiopulmonary issues. RTs provide care to newborns, pediatric and adult patients throughout the hospital from the emergency department, to inpatient wards, outpatient clinics to intensive care units and the Operating Room. They play an integral role as a member of the resuscitation teams, Rapid Evaluation and Acute Care Team (REACT), providing advanced life support, specifically airway and mechanical ventilation management, to critically ill patients.

Responsibilities

The RT Clinical Educator acts as an educational facilitator and mentor to Respiratory Therapy students during their clinical year in preparation for Respiratory Therapy licensure. The primary responsibilities of the Clinical Educator, include:

• Teaching, coordinating, monitoring, supervising, mentoring and evaluating RT clinical practicums student;
• Advising and mentoring RT staff on effective preceptoring/mentoring practices, teaching strategies and adult learning principles to maximize student learning outcomes;
• Performing all the clinical duties and responsibilities of the Respiratory Therapist, as required;
• Playing a fundamental role in departmental operations and quality assurance by providing continuing education sessions for RT staff and other health professionals;
• Participating actively in the development/implementation of new clinical practice guidelines and facilitating the orientation of new staff;
• Providing leadership and support in clinical, technical, educational and research areas to ensure excellence in patient focused care.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Models excellence in clinical skill, intraprofessional team collaboration and integration of Unity Health Values
• Assists Patient Care Manager with the hiring and orientation of new RT staff, providing ongoing education/clinical support to all staff in the use of new equipment, treatment protocols, clinical practice initiatives and maintenance of professional standards

RT Staff Education:

• Acts as an educational resource for RT staff;
• Provides educational mentoring to RT staff on teaching strategies and adult learning principles to optimize clinical learning and facilitate the professional performance of students;
• Monitors risk management and addresses issues by providing education for staff to reinforce patient and employee safety
• Develops/revises and implements educational programs for new RT practices, i.e., neonatal respiratory care and ventilation, diagnostic interventions

Assists with the coordination of and acts as a resource person for various research related activities including:

• Coordinating staffing and technical needs for conducting research projects;
• Participates in development and revision of clinical programs, policies and procedures
• Setting up, monitoring and performing research protocols outlined in various respiratory related research projects

Acts as a clinical resource for RT staff for respiratory management of complex patients, assisting staff with specific advanced care for these patients such as:

• Utilizing ultrasound for diagnostic purposes (i.e. arterial lines, diaphragm imaging)
• Prone positioning of patients in collaboration with critical care teams
• Advanced mechanical ventilation techniques: i.e. ARDS management strategies
• Research initiatives needing advanced patient care/added RT support to maintain patient safety and optimal patient care

Independent decision making:

• Implements clinical objectives for RT students;
• Identifies equipment, patient or staff safety issues, disseminates required info to staff, implements plan of action to address issue;
• Counsels and supports staff, informally on issues, e.g., death of patient, personal problems, clinical incidents etc., utilizing discretion;
• Assumes a leadership role in the event of a disaster/code orange.

Qualifications

• Completion of a recognized Respiratory Therapy Degree program;
• Completion of an Undergraduate Degree required; specializing in Principles of Adult Education preferred;
• Master's degree or currently enrolled with anticipated completion in two (2) years preferred
• Five (5) years clinical experience in acute care hospital required;
• Previous experience as an educator preferred
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills required;
• Excellent problem recognition and problem solving skills required;
• Excellent time management skills required;
• Excellent computer skills required;
• Effective decision making skills required;
• Strong technical skills required;
• Ability to maintain safe working practice and work in compliance of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and applicable regulations required;
• Ability to work in a facilitative manner with others required;
• Ability to take the initiative and work independently as required;
• Ability to multi task and pay close attention to detail, organize and prioritize work activities required.

As a condition of employment, all external hires will be required to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or documentation unless a valid accommodation under the Ontario Human Rights Code exists. All internal candidates must be in compliance with Unity Health Toronto's COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Please note, proof of vaccination must be QR Code format.