Clarification from the agency

Open to the public. 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) performs the following major duties within the scope of Respiratory Care:

Patient Assessment and Diagnostic Information
- Comprehensive Assessment: Completes assessments through direct patient contact and chart reviews, sharing critical information with the healthcare team.
- Clinical Data Interpretation: Reviews and interprets pulmonary function studies (spirometry), pulse oximetry, lung volumes, diffusion studies, and arterial blood gases.
- Physical Examinations: Measures vital signs, evaluates breathing patterns, and inspects for anomalies like cyanosis or edema.
- Diagnostic Procedures: Identifies indications for bronchoscopic procedures and performs arterial and venous sampling for blood analysis.
Disease Management and Treatment
- Care Plan Development: Develops, administers, and modifies respiratory care plans for acute and chronic diseases (e.g., COPD, asthma) using evidence-based medicine and clinical protocols.
- Education: Communicates with and educates patients to empower them in managing their cardiopulmonary health.
- Therapeutic Intervention: Administers medical gas therapy, humidity therapy, aerosol therapy, and lung expansion therapy.
- Airway Management: Evaluates and manages artificial airways, including oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal, and tracheostomy tubes.

Emergency and Critical Care
- Life Support: Performs Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) according to AHA guidelines.
- Rapid Response: Serves as a member of the Rapid Response Team/Medical Emergency Team.
- Intubation and Lines: Performs endotracheal intubation and manages arterial line and IV/midline placements.
- Mechanical Ventilation: Evaluates the need for and manages invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, making recommendations based on waveform graphics and pulmonary mechanics.

Leadership and Administration
- Practice Advancement: Demonstrates advanced practice skills and expands department activities to improve patient care.
- Collaboration: Maintains interdepartmental relations to accomplish medical center goals and adheres to regulatory requirements (FDA, Hazmat).
- Quality Standards: Applies knowledge of reimbursement criteria and integrates compliance data monitoring for respiratory devices.

Post-Acute and Environmental Care
- Home Safety: Evaluates home environments for therapy appropriateness, educating patients on oxygen and fall safety.
- Equipment Coordination: Recommends care plan modifications based on unique equipment needs in post-acute settings.

Work Schedule: 8 hours day/evening shift with rotating weekend (8:00am - 4:30pm or 3:00pm - 11:30pm as per the need)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 41709F
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.
• 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).
• 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

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:
Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, of this part. See 38 U.S.C. 7407(a) for more information.

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. Licensing within the respiratory occupation is outside of the credentialing process. Those who have obtained their degree from an accredited program in respiratory care and hold a CRT or RRT credential may be granted a license from a state.

Credential. In the field of respiratory care there are two types of credentials granted in the credentialing process to becoming registered as defined below:

• CRT. Upon graduation from an accredited program, Respiratory Therapists (RT) are eligible to take a national examination and upon passing, the individual is granted the credential of CRT by the NBRC. RTs who hold a CRT credential are limited in duties and responsibilities and differ from those who hold an RRT credential.
• RRT. Upon graduation from an accredited program, RTs are eligible to take a national examination and upon passing, the individual is granted the credential of RRT by the NBRC.

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, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment as follows:

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level)
Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have:
i. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.
ii. 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:
i. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.
ii. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.
iii. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management.

Preferred Experience:
Submission of Performance Appraisal
Minimum 1 yrs of respiratory care experience

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11.

Physical Requirements: See VA HANDBOOK 5005/141

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.