Respiratory Therapist

Summary

About the Position: This position falls under the Defense Health Agency Atlantic Network, at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth under the Directorate of Medicine-Respiratory Therapy, providing respiratory care throughout all areas of assignment including C-section and complicated deliveries.

This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

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Duties

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• As a senior respiratory therapist, the incumbent serves as the therapist in charge of various critical care units to which assigned and will be held responsible for providing treatment to seriously ill patient and emergency conditions.
• Provide respiratory care throughout all areas of assignment including, but not limited to, multi-service wards, Adult, Pediatric, and Neonatal Intensive Care Units, Emergency Department, Level II Trauma Center.
• Initiate, conduct, modify, and assist with emergency therapy techniques for airway maintenance including cardiopulmonary resuscitation to avoid patient decline or demise.
• Provide innovative and adaptive approaches in the use of respiratory therapy devices and therapies when standardized items or techniques cannot be used.
• Serve as the first assistant in bronchoscopy, demonstrating understanding of all facets of bronchoscopy procedures, including function and maintenance of the bronchoscope and associated tools, and suction equipment.
• Participate in multidisciplinary critical care rounds, offering technical expertise on respiratory support devices, patients management for respiratory illness, and established respiratory care policies and procedures.
• Provide comprehensive airway and tube care to ICU patients, tracheostomy site care, endotracheal and tracheostomy changes, monitors cuff pressures, ensures ventilator and equipment function, and performs tracheobronchial suctioning.
• Serve as an advisor/technical resource for established polices/procedures for respiratory care. The medical personnel rely upon the therapist's knowledge of capabilities and limitations of the respiratory equipment.
• Independently make recommendations to the physician regarding alternatives or modifications to treatment.
• Under the technical director's auspices, serve as preceptor to new respiratory staff and train other personnel as needed on respiratory treatments, medications, equipment, and safety protocols.
• Responsible for verifying/reviewing ventilator and respiratory therapy orders.
• Use critical thinking skills to determine what procedure and equipment is necessary during active respiratory failure and lifesaving situations.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Appointment may be subject to a suitability or fitness determination, as determined by a completed background investigation.
• This position requires the incumbent be able to obtain and maintain a determination of eligibility for a Secret security clearance or access for the duration of employment. A background investigation and credit check are required.
• This position has specific initial background investigation and periodic re-verification requirements since its duties require interaction with children and youth under the age of eighteen (18) years of age on a recurring basis.
• All applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit a urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• This position is subject to a pre-employment screening, and random drug testing, to include testing based on reasonable suspicion and testing due to direct involvement with an on-duty accident.
• This position requires the completion of a pre-employment Physical Examination and an annual examination thereafter to ensure the continued, required level of physical health and ability or fitness to perform the duties of the position.
• This position requires shift work to provide coverage on evenings, weekends, holidays, or special situations. Employee shifts are rotated on a regularly scheduled basis.
• This position has mandatory seasonal Influenza vaccination requirements and is subject to annual seasonal Influenza vaccinations unless otherwise exempted for medical or religious reasons (documentation of exemption must be provided upon hire).
• Immunization screening is required. Hepatitis B immunization is required for all positions with direct patient contact. Applicants may be required to show proof of other immunizations depending on the type of position.
• This position requires the incumbent to have Tuberculosis testing.
• This position requires that you obtain and maintain a Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from, or in accordance with, the American Heart Association and American Red Cross. Advanced certification (e.g., ALS) does not supersede BLS.
• This position has been designated Mission Essential. In the event of severe weather conditions or other such emergency type situations
• This position is subject to Temporary Duty (TDY) or business travel to various locations, 5%.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document.

Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes, 1) Making rounds on hospital nursing units to review or collect clinical data to insure that the respiratory equipment is operating properly and in compliance with physicians' orders; 2) Transporting, setting up, or testing the operation of and changing simple oxygen administering devices, e.g., masks and nasal cannulas with cylinder or centralized medical gas systems; and

3) Disassembling, cleaning, assembling, and sterilizing reusable respiratory equipment such as oxygen analyzers and regulators, including recognizing and reporting variations from expected results. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-06).

OR

Education: One full year of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Respiratory Therapy.

OR

Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) by 18. Add the two percentages.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit:

Additional information

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Registration.
• You will be required to provide proof of U.S. Citizenship.
• This position requires a 1 year probationary period during which the agency evaluates your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In making this determination, the agency may consider your performance and conduct; agency needs and interests; whether your continued employment supports organizational or Government goals; and whether it promotes the efficiency of the Federal service. Continued employment requires written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Direct Deposit of Pay is required.
• Selection is subject to restrictions resulting from Department of Defense referral system for displaced employees.
• Recruitment incentive MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Student Loan Repayment incentive MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Advanced In-hire (salary negotiation) incentive MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• Advanced Leave Accrual incentive MAY be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• This position has a lifting requirement of 35 pounds or more.
• Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement.
• Salary includes applicable locality pay or Local Market Supplement.
• If you have retired from federal service and you are interested in employment as a reemployed annuitant, see the information in the Reemployed Annuitant information sheet.
• Payment of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) costs is not authorized, based on a determination that a PCS move is not in the Government interest.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.