Clarification from the agency

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

Videos

Area I: Collection of Diagnostic Information

• Compare and evaluate the indications and contraindications for sleep studies.
• Explain results in relation to types of respiratory sleep disorders.
• Monitor and evaluate the patient's clinical condition with pulse oximetry, electrocardiogram, exhaled gas analysis, and other related diagnostic devices.
• Perform arterial and venous sampling for blood analysis.

Area II: Disease Management

• Understand the etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and comorbidities.
• Communicate and educate to empower and engage patients.
• Develop, administer, and re-evaluate patient care plans.
• Communicate and educate to empower and engage patients.
• Develop, administer, and re-evaluate patient care plans.

Area III: Evidence-Based Medicine and Respiratory Care Protocols

• Retrieve credible sources of evidence.
• Critique published research.
• Evaluate and treat patients in a variety of settings, using the appropriate respiratory care protocols.

Area IV: Patient Assessment

• Review and interpret pulmonary function studies (spirometry) and pulse oximetry.
• Review and interpret lung volumes and diffusion studies.
• Review and interpret arterial blood gases, electrolytes, complete blood cell count, and related laboratory tests.

Area V: Leadership

• Ability to communicate orally and in writing at varying levels, both internal and external to the organization.
• Skill in the development of and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory Care.
• Maintains statistical and patient data.
• Formulates evaluation of equipment needs, preventive maintenance and organization of expendable and non-expendable equipment and supplies related to the program.

Area VI: Emergency and Critical Care

• Perform endotracheal intubation.
• Perform arterial line placement and management.
• Perform IV and/or midline placement and management.
• Manage monitoring system.
• Manage airway devices.
• Identify indications for circulatory gas exchange devices.
• Deliver therapeutic interventions based on evidence-based medicine and clinical protocols.

Area VII: Assessment of Therapeutics

• Medical gas therapy.
• Humidity therapy.
• Lung expansion therapy.
• Airway management.
• Review patient history, laboratory results, and imaging data.
• Determine indications/contraindications for therapy.
• Interview and conduct physical examination of patient.
• Determine appropriateness of order.
• Determine need for physician intervention.
• Monitor patient's response to therapy.
• Instruct patient on proper technique.
• Recognize and rectify equipment malfunction (troubleshooting).
• Follow Standard Precautions for infection control.
• Recognize complications and respond to adverse effects.
• Recommend therapy modifications.
• Assess therapy effectiveness.
• Document therapy.

Area VIII: Application of Therapeutics to Respiratory Care practice

• Evaluate compressed gas cylinders.
• Evaluate regulators and flow meters.
• Evaluate liquid-oxygen systems (stationary and portable).
• Evaluate oxygen concentrators (stationary and portable).
• Evaluate high-flow air-entrainment systems.
• Evaluate oxygen and air-flow-meter mixing systems.
• Evaluate air/oxygen blenders.
• Evaluate high-flow nasal cannulas.
• Evaluate unheated passive humidifiers.
• Evaluate active and passive heat-and-moisture exchangers (HMEs).
• Evaluate heated humidifiers for medical gas delivery systems via mask, tracheal catheter, and artificial airways.
• Evaluate peak expiratory flow meters and inspiratory flow meters.
• Evaluate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices.
• Evaluate expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) devices.
• Evaluate positive expiratory therapy (PEP).
• Evaluate oscillatory positive expiratory therapy (OPEP).
• Evaluate positive airway pressure adjuncts (vibratory and non-vibratory PEP).
• Evaluate expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) devices.
• Describe the role of a respiratory therapist in therapeutic bronchoscopy.
• Evaluate the need and use of tracheostomy tubes (competency in advising decannulation or change to alternative airway based on assessment/protocols).
• Evaluate the need and use of noninvasive-ventilation interfaces: nasal mask, nasal pillows, oro-nasal mask, full-face mask, and helmet.

Area IX: Post-Acute Care

• Assess physical-vital signs, functional capacity.
• Assess cognitive-level of comprehension, reading level, language barriers.
• Recommend care plan modifications by recognizing additional needs that exist (e.g., bathroom safety, wheelchairs, electric beds, portable supplemental oxygen delivery systems).

Other duties related to this position may be assigned.

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 2:00pm - 10:30pm
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

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.
• Licensure: People 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: People 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.

(1) Exception. RT positions will be designated only to individuals who are in the process of obtaining credentials to become an RRT. These individuals will only be hired on a temporary appointment as provided below.
(a) VHA may waive the RRT credential requirement for people who are, otherwise, qualified and pending completion of prerequisites for RRT credentials. Individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, are fully licensed by their state and are working toward completion of their RRT credential may be given a temporary appointment as an RT. The temporary appointment is made under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) for a period not to exceed one year from date of employment. Candidates must hold an active, current, full and unrestricted RRT credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07 level.
(b) RTs may only be temporarily appointed at the GS-05 level and may not be promoted/converted to a higher-level position as an RRT until the RRT credential is received.
(c) RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT.
(d) Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment.

Failure to Obtain Credential. In all cases, RTs must actively pursue meeting national prerequisites for the RRT credential from the first day of their appointment. Failure to become credentialed within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0601 RT series and may result in termination of employment. The Human Resources (HR) Office staff will provide RTs, in writing, the requirement to
1) obtain their RRT credential.
2) the date by which the RRT credential must be acquired; and
3) the consequences for not becoming RRT credentialed by the deadline. The HR Office staff must provide written notices to selectees prior to entrance on duty date and maintain a copy in the electronic Official Personnel Folder.

Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials. An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment. Once credentialed, licensed or certified, RTs/RRTs must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS. All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements above in paragraph 4 a-g and all basic qualification requirements defined in the specific assignment. All positions must be designated in one of the approved titles or parenthetical title, as described below and duties must meet the definition of the assignment:

Grade Determinations:

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-12 (Polysomnography).

Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have:
i. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.
ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential.
iii. Certification. Candidates must hold a RPSGT.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
a. Skill in performing polysomnographic studies to include obtaining both physiologic and diagnostic data.
b. Skill in calibrating and troubleshooting polysomnographic equipment.
c. Skill in monitoring both physiologic and diagnostic parameters.
d. Skill in scoring data both during and post diagnostic testing.
e. Skill in analyzing data both during and post diagnostic testing.
f. Skill in preparing output for physician interpretation of data obtained both during and post diagnostic testing.
g. Skill in the assessment of oxygenation, ventilation and adverse responses.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. RRTs at this grade level in this position perform polysomnographic testing and titration studies including activities such as applying electrodes and various monitors to multiple body sites per protocol. They evaluate the relationship of events, sleep stages and possible medical conditions which influence or result from events occurring during sleep. They anticipate problems likely to occur during the sleep study, prepares for such situations and makes changes in established procedures. They obtain data measuring wake, sleep and breathing states and records various signals from the brain and airways, cardiac rate, oxygen saturation and position to enable the physician to assess and diagnose sleep and breathing disorders. RRTs troubleshoot and calibrate polysomnography, computer, oximeters, movement monitors and patient electrodes prior to the onset of each recording. They analyze and score patient data and summarize on report for physician interpretation. They monitor and initiate interventions for complications of testing and determines whether patient meets criteria for termination of testing. They perform electroencephalogram and home sleep testing and evaluate results.

Note: RRTs coordinate daily operations, develops and maintains policies and procedures for program operation and prepares reports and statistics for facility and Veterans Integrated Service Network use. They conduct a variety of audits, including clinical practice audits to evaluate operations and productivity and to ensure appropriate documentation of therapy, procedure, clinical outcomes and patient safety. They assist in determining quality and compliance data to be collected and investigates problems related to quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and recommends needed action. They make recommendations for program improvement and expansion based on research and emerging knowledge. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings.

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12

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.