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Registered Respiratory Therapist

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in Medical Service. Incumbent conducts a program of treatment diagnostic evaluation, management and care of patient with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system. Provides respiratory therapy to patients as ordered by physicians according to established standards and practices.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/02/2019 to 07/23/2019
Salary
$52,068 - $67,687 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 00
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Martinsburg, WV
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
8
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
CBDL-10541399-19-JFJonespub
Control number
538455200

Duties

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Demonstrates behaviors consistent with the philosophy, goals, and commitment to total quality improvement of Veterans Administration Medical Center.

  • Performs mechanical ventilator management Bi-Pap and respiratory monitoring. The therapist under emergency conditions may be required to independently provide to machines in conjunction with blood gas studies and ventilator data.
  • Performs emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation and maintains adequate airways, measures ventilator volumes, pressures and flows of patients requiring critical care. Airway management may consist of intubation (nasotracheal and oral), management of airway by suctioning nasally, orally, and via tracheotomy.
  • Responsible for routine trach changes throughout hospital and nursing home facility.
  • Performs arterial blood gas studies as well as Pulse Oximetry, interpretation and analysis. documenting results in computer and communicating with physician on critical values, making necessary changes to correct as needed.
  • Performs daily quality control and maintenance in compliance with college of American Pathologist (CAP) requirements on ABG analyzer presently utilized by this facility.
  • Performs Pulmonary function testing which requires maintenance.
  • Perform various studies including (FVC, SVC, FRC, DLCO, MVV) pre and post bronchodilator.
  • Other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: This position requires rotation of all shifts, day of the week, including holidays.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Education Debt Repayment Plan (EDRP): This position is eligible for Education Debt Repayment Plan (EDRP) based upon the availability of funds. Awards amounts is determined after review is complete EDRP application and supporting documentation. Final approval by the Under Secretary for Health or designated official verifies EDRP.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/23/2019.
Basic Requirements:

  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
  • Registered Respiratory Therapist: Has a certificate as an RRT from NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) and a registry number, or a certificate from another body which the NBRC recognizes as its credentialing equivalent. This includes registration based on either.
  1. Having fulfilled the requirements and passed the registration examination administered by the NBRC since 1983, or
  2. Having fulfilled the requirements and passed the registry examination for a registered inhalation or respiratory therapist administered by the (1) National Board for Respiratory Therapy from July 1974 through 1982 or (2) American Registry of Inhalation Therapist from 1961 through June 1974.
  • English Language Proficiency: RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402 (d), and 7407 (d).

Grade Determinations:
At least 1 year of successful experience related to respiratory therapy at the GS-7 level or equivalent. Qualifying experience at this level is work which includes duties such as: administering assisted and controlled ventilation to patients with tracheotomies and other complex medical problems requiring frequent adjustments in ventilator parameters; administering and monitoring advanced ventilator techniques such as positive end expiratory pressure and continuous positive airway pressure; developing plans for weaning patients from ventilators; assessing the respiratory status of patients using data acquired through physical observation and clinical analysis of blood gas data, chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered and to make recommendations to physicians regarding changes in treatment; performing the most difficult respiratory therapy procedures to maintain ventilation, including endotracheal intubation, tracheal lavage, and tracheotomy care; and providing in-service training to others in various specialized areas of respiratory care.

(2) Demonstrated knowledge and ability needed to perform complex respiratory procedures with minimal supervision. Is able to participate with physicians and nurses and other staff in planning respiratory treatment, with great reliance on the individual's knowledge of the equipment.

(3) Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide emergency or critical respiratory care; service as a shift leader or supervisor or sole responsible respiratory therapist on a shit; and to plan and conduct training sessions with respiratory therapy students, hospital staff, patients, and family members.

References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G11Registered Respiratory Therapist.
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.
Physical Requirements: On a recurring basis the employees must be physically and mentally able to perform essential job functions which require significant standing, walking, lifting and pushing, plus the ability to handle varying levels of stress in a positive manner.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

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

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate's education and experience and recommend the grade and salary at which the candidate will be placed. For internal selectees eligible for promotion, the board will recommend grade and HR will determine step in accordance with policy.

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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Veterans Health Administration

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise - "To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

The Martinsburg VA Medical Center mission is to honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Located on 175 acres in West Virginia, the Medical Center offers a comprehensive range of services, including internal medicine, ambulatory surgery, audiology and speech pathology, dental, nursing home, nutrition, podiatry, prosthetics, women's health, mental health and rehabilitation medicine. The medical center serves more than 119,000 Veterans across four state; West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. Located in Martinsburg, WV, the medical center operates seven Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs). All seven clinics are VA-staffed and are located in Cumberland, Hagerstown and Fort Detrick, Maryland, Petersburg and Franklin, West Virginia and Stephens City, Virginia and Harrisonburg, Virginia. The medical center also supports the Vet Center in Martinsburg and the Culpeper and Winchester Cemeteries in Virginia and the Veterans Hotline in Shepherdstown, WV. More information about our location can be found at the Chamber of Commerce of Martinsburg and Berkeley County website: http://www.berkeleycounty.org.

Agency contact information

Jean Fuli-Jones
Phone
304-263-0811 X4999
Email
JEAN.FULI-JONES@VA.GOV
Address
Martinsburg VA Medical Center
510 Butler Avenue
Martinsburg, WV 25405
US

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https://www.va.gov/jobs/

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