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.

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
• In 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 https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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.

Duties

• 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