Clarification from the agency

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on Veterans' Preference. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) is a member of the healthcare team in the Clinical Support Care Line at the Lebanon Veterans Affairs NA) Medical Center, performing quality therapeutic and diagnostic respiratory care under the order of a healthcare provider with recognized prescribing authority. Under the supervision of the Chief of Respiratory Care Services, the incumbent displays proficiency and performs at a level of excellence in Respiratory Care. The incumbent is responsible for his/her individual program of duties within the service and serves as a mentor to other staff, both within and outside the Respiratory Care service. Patient satisfaction and service recovery are integral parts of the responsibilities of the RRT.

Major duties include, but are not limited to:

• Equipment selection and setup to appropriately provide care ordered by physician or protocol.
• Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures with the use of medical gases and administration devices, humidification and aerosols.
• Administration of medication to the cardiopulmonary system.
• Transport of patients to and from areas for special procedures on oxygen, BiPAP, or transport ventilators.
• Verification of all orders before implementation.
• Discontinuation or exchange of all equipment, and reprocessing of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in accordance with VHA Directives and facility and department policies.
• Maintenance of natural and artificial airways as necessary, including endotracheal suctioning, oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal suctioning, sputum induction, tracheal lavage, and securing of nasal or oral endotracheal tubes or tracheostomies.
• Ventilatory support, including initiation, maintenance, and management of life support systems, and the patient/ventilator interface.
• Bedside training of physicians-in-training and medical residents through patient contacts, discussions, consultations.
• Monitoring patient status as appropriate via arterial blood gases, chest auscultation, review of x-ray studies, clinical observation.
• Weaning and removal of ventilator support, with appropriate monitoring of patient and assessment of ability to maintain reliable spontaneous ventilation.
• Bronchopulmonary drainage and breathing exercises.
• Assurance of proper performance of all respiratory equipment used in patient care.
• Oversight of oxygen therapy provided by non-respiratory staff.
• Assistance with bronchoscopy as needed.
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Participation in Rapid Response Team (RRT).
• Assistance with insertion and maintenance of artificial airways including but not limited to endotracheal tubes (ET) and intubating laryngo-tracheal mask (ILMA) airways.
• Insertion of endotracheal tubes as required in accordance with hospital and department policy, once trained and certified through established process.
• Use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of and care and determine if outcomes are met.
• Consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure the quality of patient care within area of specialty.
• Arterial punctures and arterial line draws.
• Blood gas analysis and associated quality control procedures, performed in accordance with qualification and performance guidelines developed by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and The Joint Commission (JC).
• Notification of physician regarding abnormal results and the need for associated action relative to the patient's ventilatory and oxygenation status.
• Documentation of notification of critical values to appropriate care providers.
• Effective and appropriate use of facility-provided communications devices, in accordance with hospital policy and direction.
• Patient/family/medical staff education.
• Collaboration/consultation with attending physicians, residents, fellows, interns, PAs, Nurse Practitioners, and other hospital staff.
• Recognition of the need for medical intervention if patient safety is at risk.
• Home oxygen evaluations.
• Appropriate, accurate and complete documentation for all services.
• Complete and detailed report of shift occurrences and patients status for oncoming staff.
• Performs additional duties assigned.

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.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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).
• 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.

• 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:
  • 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.

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.