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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Major duties include but not limited to:

• Participates as a member of the interdisciplinary care team in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive patient respiratory care services.
• Acts as a full performance Registered Respiratory Therapist and resource to certified, novice, and developmental level respiratory therapists.
• Demonstrates independence in the specialty of Respiratory Care and practices respiratory therapy according to guides set forth by professional standards by the AARC or NBRC.
• Performs respiratory care utilizing evidence-based practices and references national guidelines. Precepts and mentors' new hires and students for clinical development when needed within VHA. Maintains and monitors ventilator patients as required per guidelines and make the necessary adjustments based on blood gas analysis with the physician's approval.
• Sets up and monitors respiratory equipment such as invasive and noninvasive ventilators, end tidal CO2 monitors, oxygen delivery devices, re- breathers, HFNC, IPV and pulse oximetry monitors.
• Evaluates patients for fluid overload, recommends treatment modality via evidence based practices
  and takes physician verbal orders and transcribe appropriately.
• Administers a variety of therapeutic respiratory medications in a timely and safe manner according
  to physician orders, recommendations of drug conversions, and institutes national protocols when
  necessary.
• Assists physicians in placing advanced artificial airways into patients as required.
• During cardiac arrests, initiates artificial ventilation using mouth-to-mask techniques or a manual
  ventilation bag to restore patient's heartbeat, maintain ventilation and stabilizes artificial
  airway.
• During transport of patients, maintains clearance of airway, monitors vital signs, and performs
  cardiopulmonary resuscitation when necessary.
• Administers oxygen and therapeutic aerosols, incentive spirometry, chest physical therapy via vest,
  flutter valve and PEP therapy.
• Performs arterial gas blood sampling from radial and brachia! sites utilizing heparin syringe for
  transport to the Lab for analysis or at bedside with iStat and assesses for positive Allen's test
  prior to obtaining an ABG.
• Collects, and interprets arterial, venous blood gas samples, and utilizes related respiratory
  guidelines to direct patient care.
• Reports critical lab values to Physicians, makes the appropriate changes to patient care and
  correctly documents all values pertaining to arterial blood gases, electrolytes, venous gas and
  capillary blood gas samples in a timely manner.
• Responsible for calculation of respiratory diagnostics alveolar oxygen difference or index, dead
  space, and patient plateau pressure etc.
• Assists with in house transportation of critically ill mechanical ventilated patients with
  artificial airways or unstable non-invasive patients classifying as high acuity in care.
• Provides in-service training to other respiratory therapists and nursing personnel relative to the
  types of treatments given, various types of medications used, and the set up and operation of
  respiratory equipment including the necessary cleaning and safety precautions.
• Manages and calibrates complex respiratory mechanical equipment such as ventilators and analyzers to assure accurate performance.
• Provides patient and family education when necessary, pertaining to smoking cessation, tracheostomy
  suctioning, stoma care, oxygen use and hazards etc.
• Provides equipment set up and cleaning, intraoperative assistance, and processing of all clinical specimens in the performance of fiber optic bronchoscopies.
• Assists physician in performing bronchoscopy procedures and labeling specimens after collection.
• Performs pulmonary function studies and bed side diagnostics as required. These may include spirometry, lung volumes, diffusion capacity, NIF, PEFR, and bronchial provocation testing.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all 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.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 0800-1700
Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
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 identification 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.
• Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the 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

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).

Grandfathering Provision: 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: Registered Respiratory Therapist: 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.
  • 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: Physical requirements are those physical, mental and emotional capabilities and characteristics that are essential for successful job performance. Physical requirements must be clearly supported by the actual duties of the position and documented in the position description or functional statement, and supported by a studies or evaluation(s) establishing physical requirement(s) is job-related to the occupation(s). An applicant or employee may not be disqualified arbitrarily on the basis of physical requirements or other criteria that do not relate specifically to performance of the duties of a specific position.

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.