Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This is an INTERNAL ANNOUNCEMENT and is limited to current, permanent employees of the Iowa City VA Health Care System.

Videos

Major Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met.
• Develops skills through literature review of pulmonary medicine which include recognizing reproducibility of maneuvers and preliminary interpretation of diagnostic information.
• Contributes ideas, plans and information to improve outpatient respiratory services.
• Develops skills through literature review of pulmonary medicine which include recognizing reproducibility of maneuvers and preliminary interpretation of diagnostic information.
• Administers routine and special pulmonary function testing.
• Adheres to established standards of practice and exercises sound clinical judgment.
• Performs diagnostic evaluation including Spirometry Before and After Bronchodilator, Lung Volume Determinations, Diffusing Capacity Determination, Slow Vital Capacity Measurement, Maximum Voluntary Ventilation, and measurement of Airway Resistance and Conductance, arterial blood gas interpretation - this includes patient instruction, testing, equipment/computer setup and interface, troubleshooting, and preliminary interpretation.
• Monitors and evaluates patient performance during procedures and evaluates' response to PFT and recommends changes based on information obtained.
• Provides patient with clear, concise instructions and coaches the patient to achieve the best, reproducible results.
• Plans, provides and maintains a safe environment for patients, staff and families.
• Provides consulting service at the request of nursing staff or physician.
• Maintains knowledge of emergency airway management, pulmonary pharmacology and oxygen administration.
• Recognizes changes in patients' condition and responds appropriately and communicates with other members of the healthcare team when changes in condition occur.
• Ensures that equipment and supplies are available for use.
• Participates in evaluation of new equipment and services
• Participates in Continuous Improvement initiatives, monitors compliance within the PFT clinic area
• Resolves technical work problems with the aid of references, such as manuals, troubleshooting guides, and other reference sources.
• Provides accurate, legible and complete documentation of patient care delivered and response to therapy.
• Provides quality control oversight to the personnel performing spirometry in the CBOCs.
• Acts as liaison to providers for testing performance, equipment, supplies and requests for special services.
• Recommends changes in the PFT Lab to improve services and patient care.
• Assists with completion of department paperwork.
• Assists in planning and implementing effective educational programs for in-services, orientation, continuing education, and other personnel training in the PFT Lab.
• Provides additional, non-traditional services as determined by MVAHCS and department needs.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to clearly demonstrate your experience in your application package may result in disqualification. All applicants are encouraged to submit responses to each Knowledge, Skill, and Ability (KSA) on a separate document.

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).

Grade Determinations: All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements above and all qualification requirements defined in the specific assignment.

GS-12, Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary):

Experience, Licensure and Credential: Candidates must have:

• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies and KSA'S described below:
  1. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop are plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.
  2. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.
  3. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management.
• Hold an active license and RRT credential.
• Certification: Incumbent must hold a CPFT or RPFT.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
  1. Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing to include but not limited to cardiopulmonary stress testing, exercise testing, metabolic testing, bronchoprovocation testing and shunt testing.
  2. Ability to establish a quality control program related to pulmonary function lab.
  3. Skill in analyzing physiologic specimen and information from basic diagnostic procedures.
  4. Skill in assessing for signs and symptoms of adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures.
  5. Skill in determining appropriate intervention for adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures.
  6. Ability to provide training in advanced pulmonary function procedures.
  7. Ability to provide clinical consultation in advanced pulmonary function procedures.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.