Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies . Facility has first consideration.

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The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) will provide services at the Medical Center. The duties and responsibilities are carried out throughout the medical center including all clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service. The protocol and procedures are established for the treatment, management, evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system.

Duties and responsibilities of the RRT include but are not limited to the following:

Inpatient Care - Hospital (Acute Care)-

• Bronchopulmonary drainage and breathing exercises
• Oxygen Set up and Administration
• High Flow Oxygen Set Up and Administration
• Aerosolized Medication Administration
• MDI administration and education
• PEP Therapy (Flutter, acapella etc.)
• Ventilator Management and Set Up
• Noninvasive ventilator management (Bipap and Cpap)
• Continuous Positive Airway Management and Set up for OSA
• Sputum Induction and Sample preparation
• Advanced Airway Management (intubations and insertion of LMAs)
• Home Oxygen Evaluation
• Bronchoscopy Assistance
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Code Blue), Rapid Response Team (RAP)
• Proficient at performing arterial blood gases sampling, analysis, interpretation, and intervention. Competent in performing arterial line insertion
• Patient/family education- Telehealth with all services

Outpatient Care - Pulmonary Clinics and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC's)

• Performs pulmonary function testing which includes, but not limited to calibration of equipment, various diagnostic tests including Spirometry, Single Breath Diffusion (DLCO), Plethysmography (VTG)
• Methacholine challenge, 6-minute walk test and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing(CPEX)
• Bronchoscopy Assistance
• Home Oxygen Evaluation
• Evaluate/monitor patient's response to therapy and recommend changes based on information obtained
• Complete consults/clinical procedures for both outpatient/inpatient staff and patients
• Recognition of the need for medical intervention if patient safety is at risk
• Requires strong computer skill, entering collecting / downloading data of patients results following procedures utilizing approved software packages
• CPAP and /or BIPAP set-up, administration and set up
• Independently evaluate sleep related breathing disorders patients, and titrate pressures, download data, review compliance and fit patients with appropriate interface devices to achieve the physicians' therapeutic goals
• Portable Home Sleep Monitor to include assessment, education, equipment setup and downloading patient data
• Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Telehealth with all services

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 2:00pm to 10:30pm and/or 10:00am to 6:30am with rotating weekends.
Compressed/Flexible:Compressed tour available
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
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 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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. Please check that your program is verified on the CoARC website as this will be verified. Transcripts are required to be submitted.

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).

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).

Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation.
• Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA.

Grade Determinations:

Respiratory Therapist, GS-05

• Experience. None beyond the basic requirements.
• Education and Licensure. This level assignment is designated as temporary under paragraph 4d(1) above 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:
  • Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care.
  • 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.
  • Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes.
  • Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation.
  • 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:
  • Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care.
  • Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes.
  • Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation.
  • 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, AND;
  • 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:
  • 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 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: The physical demand of the work includes Moderate lifting, 15 -44 pounds; moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; pushing up to 4 hours; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers, good dexterity (both hands required); prolonged walking, prolonged standing; repeated bending; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); speed in working; and emotional stability. Must have to ability to stand for possibly long periods of time. Possible exposure to body fluid is involved. This position has been evaluated as a Level 1 in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) definition of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens.

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:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other VA employees.
3. 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.