Clarification from the agency

This job is open to all US 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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• May perform emergency tracheal intubation.
• Is responsible for airway management during a cardiac or respiratory arrest. Assist with other aspects of CPR. Responds to Code Blue's (CPR) and RRT Rapid Response Team calls.
• Responds to all STAT calls regarding a patient's respiratory Status, making an assessment and providing emergency ventilatory and/or oxygenation support.
• In collaboration with the physician:
  • Initiates mechanical ventilation, selecting the equipment and settings relative to the patients needs based on assessment of the patient and physician orders. This may also involve such modalities as high frequency ventilation, ASC, Spont PEEP/VS, DuoPAP, APVsimv, APRV and other stat of the are modalities or techniques.
  • Monitors mechanical ventilation via ABG results, chest auscultation, chest x-rays, bedside pulmonary functions, clinical observations and adjust parameters accordingly.
  • Maintains the patient on mechanical ventilation providing periodic checks, appropriate troubleshooting and equipment maintenance.
  • Removes patient from mechanical ventilation using appropriate monitoring and weaning techniques to determine the patient's ability to breathe spontaneously.
• Airway management responsibilities to include suctioning, securing the airway, and other hygiene functions are shared with nursing personnel.
• Other therapies include:
  • Suctioning-nasotracheal and endotracheal
  • Chest physiotherapy, VEST Therapy
  • Administration of aerosolized pharmacological agents
  • Assistance with the selection, placement, monitoring, cuff integrity and subsequent change of both endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes.
• Administers and monitors oxygen to include High Flow Oxygen per policy and procedure manual.
• Initiates hyperinflation therapies to include, but not limited to, acapella, incentive spirometry or other PAP therapies in accordance to physician's orders or protocol.
• Performs Beside spirometry, ABG's, pulmonary mechanics, assists beside bronchoscope, sputum inductions, and HO2 set ups and education and needed.
  • Performs arterial blood gas punctures (radial/brachial, and femoral sticks with physician approval), analysis and report results, particularly critical values to physician and or primary nurse and may assist in the placement or drawing from indwelling arterial lines with proper certification and competencies.
  • Monitors/measures lung parameters such as (vital capacity, tidal volumes, negative inspiratory force, etc.) and recommends various forms of weaning procedures to the Attending Physician and house staff physician upon patient's critical status.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, alternating weekends, 6:45pm-7:15am and 10:45pm-7:15am, subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 580-00450-F
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 evaluation.
• 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

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.
• Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor.
• Licensure: Persons appointed or reassigned to Registered Respiratory Therapist 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 a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
• Credential: Persons appointed or reassigned to Registered Respiratory Therapist positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) through National Board for Respiratory Care (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, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level).

RRT, GS-11

Experience, Education, Licensure and Registration: Candidates must have:

1. One (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.
2. Hold an active license and RRT credential.

Demonstrate Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.
2. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.
3. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management

Preferred Experience: 2 years medical/surgical intensive care experience, & 2 years closed-loop ventilation management 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 GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with the work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation. see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that require normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred based on the Veterans' Preference

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.