Registered Respiratory Therapist

Summary

Respiratory Therapists function as members of the medical team in treating and assessing the needs of individuals who may be seriously ill and provide around the clock care to individuals who otherwise would not be able to survive life-threatening conditions.

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Duties

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RRTs at this grade level will be responsible for the following assignments with minimal clinical supervision from

an RRT at the full performance level in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings.

- Completes patient assessment through direct contact, chart review and other means as appropriate and

share the information with health care team members.

- Uses accepted measuring/monitoring tools for determining plan of care.

- Performs duties in the critical area with close supervision to include in- line suctioning, re-positioning and

securing endotracheal tube, bag valve mask ventilation, assisting in patient transport and performing

patient ventilator assessment.

- Provides outpatient services, such as positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD

care.

- Routinely administers prescribed treatments and therapy

- Fully demonstrates competencies in initiating, monitoring, and documenting all modes of mechanical

ventilation including NIPPV.

- Provides airway care for all patients throughout the medical center including assisting with emergency

intubation, nasal and endotracheal tube suctioning, and securing endotracheal tubes.

- Maintains competencies in out of operating room airway management and follows most current out of

operating room airway management facility memorandum.

- Immediately responds to meet the need of patients requiring cardiopulmonary resucitation

- Maintains basic life support credentials.

- Completes barcode medication adminstration in accordance with department policies and procedures.

- Routinely measures plateau pressure, cuff pressures, response to therapies, pulmonary mechanics, auto-

PEEP, weaning parameters, RSBI, peak expiratory flow rate, and pulse oximetry, on mechanically

ventilated patients.

- Actively collaborates with physicians, nurses, and other staff, to develop plans of care

- Is knowledgeable of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines

in cleaning equipment as appropriate.

- Interprets request from physician for appropriateness of requested procedure.

Receives assignment(s) that require application of standard procedures or that have special procedures

identified and explained.

- Carries out the appropriate request made by practitioners or seeks assistance of respiratory therapy

supervision, when an uncommon, unique or new procedure is requested.

- Is knowledgeable of electronic medical record (EMR) and can use the record to access pertinent patient

information as needed.

- Consult discrepancies are noted and acted upon as they are received. Corrective action is taken as per

policies and procedures.

- Completes all procedure requests in a timely manner.

- Keeps current with changes in policies and procedures and utilizes reference material and other resources

to resolve problems.

- Notifies supervisor, in accordance with policies and procedures, of any problems that cannot be resolved by

conventional means.

- Operates and maintains diagnostic medical equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized

procedures related to respiratory therapy.

- Associates clinical status with normal and abnormal values in accordance with basic standards.

- Recommends modifications to correct abnormal results, if applicable.

- Immediately calls and properly documents all critical results to appropriate personnel in accordance with

policies and procedures enabling clinical intervention as soon as possible.

- Follows established policies and procedures when assembling, identifying, calibrating and troubleshooting

equipment.

- Uses supplies and equipment according to manufacturer's specifications, and as per departmental

policies and procedures.

- Maintains all administrative and clinical compentencies.

- Completes all required hospital mandatory training within established time frames to meet organizational

and departmental mission and goals.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Monday through Friday 6:00am - 4:30pm and every other weekend, and 130p-12a Monday through Friday and every other weekend

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 21N23-A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements :

• Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.)
• English Language Proficiency. RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.
• Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT.
• Credential. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations :

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-07 .

(a) Experience, Education, Licensure and Registration. I n addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess their RRT credential.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities . In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

i. Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care.

ii. Skill in analyzing physiological specimens obtained to include arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, End tidal Co2 (ETCo2) monitoring, basic spirometry and other basic diagnostic procedures.

iii. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare 8 professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes.

iv. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation.

v. Ability to perform basic airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-09.

(a) Experience or Education, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have:

i. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level; OR ii. A Master of Science degree in respiratory care AND a license AND an RRT credential.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

i. Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care.

ii. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes.

iii. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation.

iv. Ability to perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation.

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11.

(a) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have:

i. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential.

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

i. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.

ii. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.

iii. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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.