Clarification from the agency

United States Citizens 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 incumbent demonstrates knowledge and abilities required to successfully perform the following duties within the scope of respiratory care in the Inpatient Respiratory Therapy Department and/or the Outpatient Respiratory Therapy Departments.

General Knowledge - Cardiopulmonary Diseases, Diagnostics, Sleep Disorders:

• Understands etiology, anatomy, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of common cardiopulmonary disease and sleep disorders.
• Identifies common issued and limitations of diagnostic testing related to pulmonary and sleep diagnostic procedures pertinent to the area(s) to which assigned.
• Demonstrates knowledge or commonly performed testing procedures performed in the section(s) to which he/she is assigned, as well as common medications used in the treatment of the patient populations in the area(s) to which assigned.
• Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of medical gas systems, including delivery and troubleshooting of essential oxygen delivery systems, including but not limited to wall oxygen/air, regulators, compressed gas tanks, flowmeters, nasal cannulas and oxygen bleed in with home pressure support therapy systems.

Clinical Competence

• Identifies important information that must be obtained prior to performing any diagnostics procedure or treatment, including, but not limited to age, weight, race, pulmonary and/or sleep history and current pulmonary and/or sleep medications or treatments.
• Demonstrates ability to perform routine vital sign measurements, including heart rate, respiratory rate, rhythm and pattern, as well as pulse oximetry.
• Identifies indications, contraindications and hazards associated with any diagnostic or therapeutic testing and treatment delivered in the department to which he/she is assigned.
• Demonstrates proficiency in performing tests and procedures commonly ordered independently.
• Understands and follows department and Medical Center policies and standard operating procedures.
• Cleans, maintains and troubleshoots equipment in the area(s) to which assigned and reports issues that cannot be resolved at the user level to appropriate personnel.
• Ensures adequate storage and inventory of disposable or issuable supplies, ordering or notifying appropriate personnel in a timely manner when supply levels need replenished.
• Other duties, as requested and within scope of practice and licensure.

Clinical Practice - Emergency Care

• Effectively identifies and takes appropriate action when faced with adverse reactions and patient situations that require urgent or emergency management including but not limited to, falls, fainting, acute change in mental status, acute change in HR, RR, or blood pressure, extreme shortness of breath, hypoxia, chest pain, cardiac and/or respiratory arrest.

Communication / Documentation

• Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, families, coworkers and other staff.
• Collaborates with patients, families and other members of the healthcare team to facilitate patient testing and appointment needs as required.
• Properly and completely documents all assessments, patient response, results, equipment issuance, and/or follow up care.
• Ensures all consults, orders and requests are accurate and completed in a timely manner.
• Ensures that complications, undesirable responses or other issues are clearly documented.
• When necessary, enters patient safety reports.

Education

• Provides patient education pertinent to the area in which assigned.
• Keeps abreast of current trends in respiratory care.
• Completes all mandatory self-paced learning sessions as assigned.
• Attends all required meetings, in-services and training sessions.
• Participates in performance improvement projects, as assigned.

Health & Occupational Safety

• Demonstrates knowledge of critical information related to medical gas systems, including hazards and risks associated with their use and storage.
• Correctly identifies and demonstrates ability to don proper PPE required during appropriate cardiopulmonary testing/procedures.
• Ensures a safe patient environment at all times
• Notifies environmental services when in need of additional cleaning or service.
• Enters work order for items needing engineering assistance.

Work Schedule: Intermittent, Day Tour, minimum 1 shift per week, 7:30am - 3:30pm or 7:30am - 4:00pm, no weekends or holidays
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 94275-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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

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: Candidates must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor.
• Licensure: Candidates must possess and maintain a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Credential: Candidates must possess and maintain a valid, current, unrestricted credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• 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).

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 hey were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

1. Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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 Determination, 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. This includes but is not limited to: obtains, interprets and analyzes physiological specimens and data. Consults with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty. Manages and maintains the airway and ventilation of the patient through the use of appropriate mechanical means. Assesses and evaluates patients to determine and recommend intervention to develop and implement a plan of care, such as, implementing protocols, intubation, monitoring critical systems and uses advanced modes of ventilation. Provides outpatient services such as home ventilators, PAP therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care.
• 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.

Physical Requirements: Considerable walking/standing may be required. Frequent lifting, positioning, pushing/pulling may be required when moving equipment or supplies or other infrequent needs. Frequent, prolonged extensive or considerable sitting is often required. Manual dexterity and mobility are required. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above-average dexterity to perform intricate respiratory therapy procedures. Frequent reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, or crouching may be necessary. Moderate physical effort (ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds) may be occasionally required. Intermittent exertion is possible. Subject to interruptions and stress from multiple calls, patient needs and/or inquiries from others, whether in-person, on the telephone or via computer. Sound judgement and ability to function under stress is required. Inappropriate actions/judgment, especially those during emergency or crisis situations, may result in injury or death.

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.

Areas of Consideration - Preference veterans will receive first consideration and will be referred in the following order:

• CPS/CP: A veteran who served at any time and who has a compensable service-connected disability rating of at least 10 percent.
• XP: A veteran who served at any time and has a present service-connected disability or is receiving compensation, disability retirement benefits, or pension from the military or the Department of Veterans Affairs but does not qualify as a CP or CPS; or is a purple heart recipient.
• TP: 5-point preference based on eligible active duty service.
• SSP (Sole Survivorship Preference): Discharged from active duty from the armed forces, after August 29, 2008, by reason of a "sole survivorship discharge."
• All other qualified US citizens.