Clarification from the agency

This vacancy is open to current permanent VA Nationwide employees and Federal employees of other Agencies.

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**If you are not a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply CBST-12757379-25-SC.**

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The RRT provides respiratory care to patients on the Intensive Care Units, general wards, primary care clinics, subspecialty clinics, Community Living Center, Sleep Lab, Bronchoscopy Lab, Electrocardiogram Lab, Pulmonary Function Lab Recovery Room, and Emergency Department using the full range of Respiratory Services. Major duties for the position include, but are not limited to:

• Performs emergency tracheal intubation upon certification.
• Performs airway management during a cardiac or respiratory arrest. Often assists with other aspects of CPR.
• Responds to all STAT pages regarding a patient's respiratory, EKGs and ABGs status making an assessment and providing emergency ventilatory and/or oxygenation.
• Initiates Mechanical Ventilation (MV) management, selecting the equipment and settings relative to the patient's needs. This may also involve such modalities as high frequency ventilation, PEEP, and other state of the art techniques.
• Monitors MV via ABG results, chest auscultation, chest X-rays, bedside pulmonary function, clinical observation and adjusts parameters accordingly.
• Maintains the patient on mechanical ventilation providing periodic checks, appropriate troubleshooting, and equipment maintenance.
• Removes patient from MV via appropriate monitoring and waning techniques to determine the patient's ability to breathe spontaneously.
• Performs airway management responsibilities, to include suctioning, securing the airway, and other hygiene functions are shared with nursing personnel.
• Performs suctioning-nasotracheal and endotracheal, chest physiotherapy, administration of aerosolized pharmacological agent, assistance with the selection, placement, monitoring, cuff integrity and subsequent change of both endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes.
• Administers and monitors oxygen per policy and procedure manual.
• Initiates hyperinflation therapies to include incentive spirometry or Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing in accordance with physician's orders and appropriateness of care.
• Performs Arterial Blood Gas punctures (radial/brachial, and femoral sticks with physician approval), analysis and reports results to physician and or primary nurse and may assist in the placement or drawing from indwelling arterial lines.
• Measures static compliance, critical lung volumes and lows, and pressures for trend information. Calculates additional complex formulas related to the patient's critical status.
• Performs simple pulmonary function studies (vital capacity, tidal volumes, negative Inspiratory force, etc.) and recommends various forms of weaning procedures to the Attending Physician and house staff physicians.

Work Schedule: 3-2 split, 12 hour shifts, 0730-2000 or 1930-0800, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00620F, 00621F, 00622F, 00623F.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 trial 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.
• 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.
  • Exception. RT positions will be designated only to individuals who are in the process of obtaining credentials to become an RRT. These individuals will only be hired on a temporary appointment as provided below.
    • VHA may waive the RRT credential requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified and pending completion of prerequisites for RRT credential. Individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, are fully licensed by their state and are working toward completion of their RRT credential may be given a temporary appointment as an RT. The temporary appointment is made under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) for a period not to exceed one year from date of employment. Candidates must hold an active, current, full and unrestricted RRT credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07 level.
    • RTs may only be temporarily appointed at the GS-05 level and may not be promoted/converted to a higher-level position as an RRT until the RRT credential is received.
    • RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT.
    • Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment.
    • Failure to Obtain Credential. In all cases, RTs must actively pursue meeting national prerequisites for the RRT credential from the first day of their appointment. Failure to become credentialed within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0601 RT series and may result in termination of employment.

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment as follows:

Respiratory Therapist, GS-05.
Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
Education and Licensure. This level assignment is designated as temporary for individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, licensed by their state and are working towards obtaining RRT credential.

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-07
Experience, Education, Licensure and Registration. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess their RRT credential.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

1. Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care.
2. 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.
3. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes.
4. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation.
5. Ability to perform basic airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation.

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-09.
Experience or Education, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have:

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

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

1. Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care.
2. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes.
3. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation.
4. Ability to perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation.

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11.
Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have:

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

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

1. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.
2. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.
3. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management.

Preferred Experience: One (1) year of critical experience performing pulmonary function tests and bronchoscopy procedures. Bachelor degree.

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-05 to GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

How you will be evaluated

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

Area of consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1st Area of Consideration - current permanent G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center employees including satellites;
2nd Area of Consideration - current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees;
3rd Area of Consideration - current permanent VA Nationwide employees; and
4th Area of Consideration - current permanent Federal employees of other Agencies

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.