Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees of the facility and all US Citizens.

Videos

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Assures accuracy of prescription, completion and selection of equipment requirement section of the consult, and completion of the patient plan of care, provide treatment planning and administration, medication education, oxygen renewal, and oxygen education in the home.
• Provides in-home services to Veterans that present with a wide variety of multiple, complex chronic illnesses and/or profound disabilities to improve or maintain functional levels and encourage independence in the home.
• Provides oversight and clinical review of the Home Respiratory Care Program according to VHA Clinical practice recommendations, and local policies and procedures.
• Consults with clinical staff to establish prescriptions and equipment needs for home respiratory care.
• Performs equipment troubleshooting, minor repairs, CPAP/BiPAP mask fittings, and equipment cleaning, calibration, and maintenance are required.
• Initiates, evaluates, and educates on the use of respiratory devices.
• Develops, administer, evaluate, reevaluate, and modify respiratory care plans in the acute/chronic home setting utilizing evidence-based medicine, protocols, and clinical practice guidelines to provide quality care.
• Performs patient, family, and caregiver education as needed.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Telework: Ad-hoc telework available at the discretion of the agency.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 935530
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.
• A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. (Please do not submit a copy of your license within your applicant package.)

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.
• 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 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. At the GS-12 grade level the following certifications are desirable but not required: CPFT, RPFT or RPSGT.
• English Language Proficiency: 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).

Grade Determinations: To qualify for the GS-12 grade level, you must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level and hold an active license and RRT credential. Experience includes, but is not limited to the following: providing respiratory care in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings, using data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met; consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty; manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means; determine and implement complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, bronchoscopy, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation; monitor critical systems; use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services, such as home ventilators and COPD case management; suggest alternate modes of treatment where indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment; may perform invasive procedures such as arterial line placement; serve as a preceptor to lower graded staff, and may lead projects developing new policies, procedures or protocols.

In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing and stress/exercise testing.
• Ability to maintain a quality control program related to pulmonary function testing.
• Ability to treat acute complications for all pulmonary function testing.
• Skill in performing polysomnographic studies to include obtaining both physiologic and diagnostic data.
• Skill in calibrating and troubleshooting polysomnographic equipment and physiologic and diagnostic monitoring.

Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in home based primary care.

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

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

Physical Requirements: The position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses for potentially long periods of time. This may include walking, standing, stooping, bending, sitting, reaching, pushing, and pulling. It may include moderate lifting/carrying, not greater than 35 pounds, following Safe Patient Handling and Mobility (SPHM) guidelines. Employees are expected to employ proper body mechanics during lifting and seek assistance or use mechanical lifts for weights greater than 35 pounds, following Safe Patient Handling Guidelines. Requires adequate vision to accurately perform the assigned duties, distinguish basic colors and assess patients and the environment safely. The position requires the ability to hear at a level to perform the assigned duties, and the use of hearing aids is permitted. The work will involve traveling between clinic sites and into veterans' homes. The incumbent is occasionally asked to travel to a distant VA, training site or conference location. This position requires operation of a government-owned or leased motor vehicle to properly carry out assigned duties. A valid state-issued driver license is required, along with medical clearance by Employee Occupational Health. Employee would be considered an Incidental Driver. Incidental operators are employees, other than those occupying a position officially classified as a motor vehicle operator, who are required to operate a government-owned/-leased motor.

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.

• Creditable Experience: Experience is only creditable if credentialed as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or RRT, the experience is in respiratory care, pulmonary function testing or polysomnography and directly related to the position being filled. To be creditable, the candidate's experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) associated with current practice in paid employment as a CRT or RRT.
• Part-Time Experience: Part-time experience is credited according to its relationship to the full-time workweek (e.g., an RRT who worked 20 hours a week would receive one full-time workweek of credit for each two weeks of service).

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.

Area of Consideration- Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:

1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility.
2. All other applicates.

Note: Veterans' Preference is not applicable to VA employees or employees of other Federal agencies.

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.