Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Duties include but are not limited to:

• Work is performed independently by full performance level RRTs under physician medical direction often without direct supervision;
• Therapists perform work under the guidance of written provider orders. Orders are expected to be verified prior to administering the care, treatment or service.
• The therapist will have knowledge of a variety of related acute and chronic disorders and diseases, their effect on the lungs and heart, and the method of treatment.
• The therapist will be clinically competent, self-motivated and able to work in an independent manner understanding their role not only as a member of the greater health care team, but also as an advanced therapist expected to perform at the full performance level.
• The therapist understands their responsibilities to guide lesser experienced and lesser credentialed therapists to help them advance in their skills.
• The therapist will pro-actively stay abreast of current concepts in Respiratory Care.
• The therapist will have knowledge of changes over the life span of the patient and have the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status to identify each patient's requirements relative to age-specific needs.
• The therapist will have the ability to plan and conduct training sessions with, students, hospital staff to include physicians, other respiratory therapists, patients and caregivers/family members.
• The therapist will be trained and skilled in utilizing proper techniques for obtaining, transporting, analyzing, interpreting, and reporting arterial blood gas samples in a timely manner.
• The therapist is responsible for adhering to pre-analytic, analytic and post-analytic guidelines to protect the integrity of the sample and ensure quality results.
• The therapist will be trained and familiar with both blood gas/co-oximetry instrumentation and analysis, and able to perform required special testing for lab accreditation purposes.
• The therapist's primary responsibility is to help maintain a patent airway at all times for the patient.
• The therapist will be trained and skilled in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care including but not limited to the initiation, patient education, performance, and documentation of various modes of therapy, including but not limited to side-arm nebulization, oxygen administration, humidification and aerosolization, chest percussion and postural drainage, coughing/deep breathing exercises, positive airway pressure therapy, airway secretion clearance devices, naso/endotracheal suctioning.
• The therapist will have knowledge of the pharmacology of medications used in the delivery of respiratory care, common dosages, typical and atypical patient responses and side effects.
• The therapist will be able to initially assess the patient using chart review, bedside assessment skills to include but not limited to auscultation, vital signs, review of chest x-ray, and pulse oximetry.
• The therapist will also be able to skillfully reevaluate the efficacies of therapeutic modalities by reassessing the patient utilizing arterial blood gas analysis, pulse oximetry, peak flow maneuvers, end tidal CO2, basic spirometry, other diagnostic procedures and bedside patient assessment skills.
• Under physician direction, the therapist will be responsible for initiating and maintaining both invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation to include the use of advanced modes of ventilation.
• The therapist will be responsible for performing and documenting routine patient status / ventilator system checks at designated intervals according to policy. Ventilator checks are to include but are not limited to status of usage and current parameter settings as compared to current provider order, patient assessment, alarm settings, ordered ventilator changes, weaning parameters, spontaneous breathing trials, extubations, and any relevant information reflecting the care and/or treatment of the patient.
• Electronic data collection system (Clinicomp) will be utilized to capture ventilator settings and values in real time to ensure data is inside the electronic health record.
• The therapist will be trained and familiar with all aspects of both invasive and non-invasive ventilators used in this facility, as well as trouble-shooting techniques.
• The therapist will be able to assess ventilated patients via arterial blood gas analysis, monitor information, ventilator feedback, and bedside patient assessment skills to evaluate and effectively communicate respiratory status including complex respiratory cases to determine if current care plans seem appropriate and outcomes are being met.

Work Schedule: Compressed Work Tour - 12 Hour Night Tour with Rotating Weekends (7:30pm - 8:00am)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:60306-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 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:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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. (Documentation of completion must be uploaded as a Transcript)
• 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.

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 they 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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 3 above, 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.
(a) 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.
(b) 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: 3 years of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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.