Registered Respiratory Therapist

Summary

This position is organizationally located at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as part of the Respiratory Care Unit of the Medicine Division. The GS-11 Registered Respiratory Therapist provides independent respiratory care to critically ill patients, including ventilator management, advanced airway procedures, cardiopulmonary assessment, emergency response, and equipment calibration/repair.

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Duties

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Major Duties of the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) include but are not limited to:

Clinical Responsibilities

• Serves as a respiratory therapist in the intensive care units and all wards and clinic areas with responsibility for independently administering complex respiratory therapy treatment to critically ill patients.
• Sets up and monitors a variety of complex respiratory equipment such as volume ventilators for critical care patients. Based on patient assessment and analysis of blood gas data, adjusts ventilator settings in order to change the patient's ventilator status. Applies advanced ventilator techniques such as positive and expiratory pressure (PEEP), intermittent mandatory ventilator (IMV), and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), BIPAP and microprocessor ventilators.
• Performs weaning parameters and monitors patients closely to avoid incidents and to alter the plan as necessary.
• Initially and continuously assesses the cardiopulmonary condition of assigned patients using data acquired through physical examination and respiratory monitoring and diagnostic equipment.
• Determines the effectiveness and /or need for change in the therapy being administered.
• Monitors and interprets values such as pulmonary artery pressures, pulmonary capillary wedge pressures, mixed venous oxygen content, and cardiac output for the purpose of reporting patient status and making recommendations to physicians regarding treatment.
• Performs airway and tube care on intensive care patients including cleaning and securing the tracheostomy and endotracheal tube and site, changing endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes as needed, monitoring tube cuff pressure and inspecting equipment and patient to insure proper functioning of the ventilator.
• As a member of the CODE 4 Team in cases of cardiac arrest, initiates artificial ventilation using either mouth-to-mouth techniques or manual ventilation bag to restore patient's heartbeat and maintain ventilation. During transport of patients within or outside to hospital, maintains ventilation, monitors vital signs, and performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation when necessary.
• Provides in-service training to other respiratory therapists and nursing personnel relative to the types of treatments given, various types of medications used, and the set up and operation of respiratory equipment including the necessary cleaning and safety precautions. Presents demonstrations and subsequently observes personnel during performance to correct faulty techniques and answer questions.
• Calibrates complex respiratory equipment such as volume ventilators, and co-oximeters to assure accurate performance.
• Identifies and corrects mechanical malfunction of equipment used in the respiratory therapy service.
• Performs emergency repair of ventilators used in the intensive care unit.
• Records treatment, findings, and progress pertinent to patient care.
• Assigns respiratory therapy technicians according to their level of competence and experience. He/she may find it advisable in his/her judgment to change technicians from one assignment to another during a shift because of changing work conditions.
• Some changes in methods and procedures that the therapist may propose will affect other services, i.e., Medical, Surgery, Nursing, etc. When this situation occurs, he/she participates in joint conferences, to solve the problem and coordinate efforts.
• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology including an in-depth understanding of the structure and function of the lungs and bronchi as related to gas exchange and ventilation, to administer special ventilatory techniques such as positive and expiatory pressure and intermittent mandatory ventilation.
• Interpret the results of blood gas studies and adjustment of ventilator settings.
• Assist physician with intubation and remove endotracheal tubes.
• Assess patient's respiratory status and evaluate the effectiveness of therapy.

Education

• Instructs patients and their families explaining the operation and use of respiratory equipment including treatment procedures and providing reassurance and comfort. Generally, the patients are acutely ill and under considerable stress requiring the therapist to be tactful in establishing and maintaining communication.
• Contact physicians, nurses, and other respiratory therapists for resolving complications in patient care, coordinating action during emergency situations, tube changes and transports, resolving problems associated with equipment failure, and providing clinical instructions and demonstrations in respiratory therapy procedures and techniques.
• Provide in-services to physicians and nurses on new equipment and/or procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Full Time

Telework : Not Eligible

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 00087F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.

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).

Basic Requirements :

• United States Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the US. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language : Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook Part II, Chapter 3, Section A. paragraph3j.
• Education : Must possess successful completion of a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.
• License : Must possess a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT.
• Credential : Must posses a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT.

Grade Determinations :

One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level

AND

In addition to the requirements above, able to demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.
• Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.
• 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 GS-11.

Physical Requirements: The physical status of the RRT should enable them to perform all their duties under normal and emergent conditions. The evaluation of an individual's ability to perform efficiently and without hazard to self or others will encompass a composite consideration of physical, mental and emotional ability as related to realistic requirements for the duties and responsibilities to be assumed.

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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