Therapist-Speech III Certified Neonatal

Job Summary

• Evaluates and assesses neonates to establish functional, measurable goals to promote development of functional abilities.
• Identify and provide treatment according to a written plan of care to meet established goals.
• Plans for safe discharge and communicates findings and progress according to professional licensure/certification, scope of practice and departmental/discipline policies and procedures.
• Ensures family involvement and understanding with regards to neonates, including necessary follow up following discharge.
• Produces other reports as needed.
• May supervise clinical students and support staff including certified/licensed assistants, technicians, and volunteers.
• Provides a caring relationship that facilitates health, and healing.
• Provides leadership support, participates on hospital committees, serves as a resource and ambassador for performance improvement to clinical and management staff.
• Adheres to the ASHA Code of Ethics.

• Job Responsibilities
• Evaluates and treatment of infants/children in NICU with a variety of diagnoses, which may affect the following systems: family and psychosocial, neurodevelopment, neuromotor, neurobehavioral, sensory, oral motor, and feeding/swallow.
• Develops a written plan of care.
• Provides treatment according to established goals on plan of care, including individualized therapeutic intervention designed to promote development and reduce readmissions.
• Provide therapeutic interventions to optimize development and facilitate the prevention of adverse sequelae due to prematurity and/or iatrogenic problems associated with prolonged hospitalization.
• Documents interventions/care in the patient's medical record.
• Evaluates effectiveness of plan of care and reassesses patient's functional status as needed.
• Assess neonate-feeding capabilities through evaluation and testing.
• Provides discharge-planning information which includes patient/family education, follow-up, and referral to community resources.
• Complete feeding/dysphagia assessments and treatments as indicated.
• Contributes to the development of staff and students.
• Participates in activities designed to improve health care delivery.
• Completes assigned goals.
• Perform modified barium swallow studies on inpatient and outpatient neonates.
• Provide feeding recommendation, including diet and route.
• Provide one on one education to parents/caregiver.
• Assist with transition to breast prior to discharge from hospital.
• Educate all new nursing staff regarding therapy in the well-baby, NICU or PICU, oral feeding, premature infant development and developmental care.
• Oversee developmental care practice in the NICU; lead or participate in developmental care and/or nutrition/feeding committee.
• Create/administer/participate in yearly competencies for NICU therapy staff.

Experience

Minimum Required: 3 years of clinical experience

Preferred/Desired

Experience with lactation support and education.

Education

Minimum Required

Master’s degree in speech-language pathology or education required by licensure..

Special Skills

Minimum Required: Basic computer literacy skills

Licensure: Slp;bls certification within 14 days of hire