Clarification from the agency

Applicants will be referred in the following order: First - Current Permanent Boise VA Health Care System Employees; Second - Current Permanent VA Employees Nationwide; Third- Health Professions Trainee (HPT).

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Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• The Incumbent Registered Respiratory Therapist is responsible for managing all administrative and clinical aspects of the organizational unit. This includes In-Patient and Out-Patient Respiratory Care Services and clinics.
• The Incumbent is responsible for all aspects of the department's goals. This includes planning, organizing, staffing, decision making, coordinating, reporting and budgeting for all areas supervised. Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgement.
• The Incumbent has broad and overall responsibility for clinical practice, program management, education, human resource management, budget management and supervision for employees whose work involves providing high acuity care.
• The Incumbent provides leadership with objective, independent assessments and recommendations for policy, operational and administrative issues and initiatives requiring decision and action.
• The incumbent is the health care systems key person to implement programs in respiratory and sleep related patient care.
• The Incumbent directs more than one kind of work, each representing a requirement for a distinctly different additional body of knowledge for which this position provides both technical and administrative supervision.
• Applies specialized principles and practices of health care management in leading programs.
• Develops and implements the organizational vision that integrates program goals, strategic priorities, ICARE values, and other factors.
• Plans the sequence of operations, recommends and implements changes in organization or work assignments to improve work, services, job satisfaction, etc.
• Prepares formal requests for filling vacancies and for addition personnel to meet work requirements, reviews candidates, performs interviews and selects staff.
• Serves as a consultant and works in collaboration with case managers, discharge coordinators, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and ancillary staff regarding the respiratory care provided.
• Develops policies, procedures and protocols, performance and quality standards, position descriptions and functional statements.
• Consults with affiliates and works collaboratively with the Medical Center's managers and clinical leaders to develop and enhance program opportunities and performance in support of mission objectives.
• Provides oversight in developing procedures and methodologies for monitoring quality assurance and continuous improvement programs.
• Establishes a master staffing plan, including numbers and skills for staff based on patient needs, staffing guidelines, staff qualifications, infection control concerns, work area geography, and human resources supply and demand.
• Plans and implements an effective educational program for in-services, orientation, continuing education and other personnel training including respiratory therapists, medical students, residents, house staff, nursing staff, patients/families/caregivers and other Medical Center personnel.
• Responsible for ensuring all legal, regulatory, quality and safety standards for his/her areas are met, including Joint Commission, OIG, Fire Safety, Infection Control, Blood Borne Pathogens, Chemical Hazards, CPR, education documentation, patient confidentiality, employee orientation, and employee competency.
• Develops performance improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary; proposes and effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area. Completes annual performance appraisals.
• Develops a 5-year equipment plan. Researches appropriate critical care equipment, arranges in-services, gathers all required documentation and quotes to purchase. Enters SEPG/EER and closely works with Logistics to ensure equipment purchase and delivery.
• The Chief, Respiratory Care is responsible to the CC/Pulmonology/Sleep Medical Director, Specialty Medicine Section Chief, and to the Service Chief/ACOS Medicine.

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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• 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).

• Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must:
  • i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more functional specialties such as critical care, pulmonary, education and sleep medicine.
  • ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. (b)
• Education. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess a Bachelor of Science degree from a nationally accredited college or university in respiratory care; cardiopulmonary science; or a health-related field.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  • i. Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data.
  • ii. Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care.
  • iii. Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies.
  • iv. Ability to supervise employees.
  • v. Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters.

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, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

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

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.