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Respiratory Therapy is a life-supporting, life-enhancing health care professional practice under qualified medical supervision. Respiratory care services, both diagnostic and therapeutic, are provided to patients with known or suspected disorders of the cardiopulmonary system.
05/20/2025 to 06/02/2025
$68,138 - $107,167 per year
GS 9 - 11
1 vacancy in the following location:
No
No
Not required
No
Permanent
Full-time
Excepted
11
No
Yes
CBSU-12736984-25-RR
837301300
Current federal employees whose agencies follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's hiring rules and pay scales.
Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.
Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.
This announcement is only open to current Department of Veteran Affairs employees and other Federal employees.
Performs all aspects of respiratory care treatments and diagnostic studies in inpatient and outpatient settings under
the general guidance of a full performance RRT.
The primary duties include but are not limited to:
1. They consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area
of specialty.
2. RRTs assess and evaluate patients to develop and recommend or implement a plan of care, using protocols
in respiratory modalities, medications, advanced modes of ventilation, supplemental oxygen, and intubation.
3. They select and adapt respiratory care procedures as may be required based on patient status, recognizing
the differing developmental and treatment needs of patients of different ages. Specifically, the differing
needs of the adult and geriatric patient populations served.
4. Performs critical care patient management techniques such as, non-invasive, and invasive ventilation,
intubation, airway management, hemodynamic calculations and any other patient related functions as
deemed within the scope of practice of respiratory therapists and institutional policy.
5. Aerosol and other respiratory medication therapies.
6. Lung function testing to include bedside, remote spirometry, and advanced pulmonary function testing in
both inpatient and outpatient settings.
7. Oxygen evaluations resting and exertional via SpO2 or arterial blood gases and analysis.
8. Airway clearance therapies to include but not limited to manual percussion, chest vest, manual and
mechanical cough assist, hyperinflation therapy and incentive spirometry.
9. Obtain, interpret, and analyze physiological specimens and data, and communicates the results to the
respective physician after analysis is complete as required.
10. Assist with bronchoscopies to include bedside and advanced testing.
11. Participates in care team rounds.
12. Sleep diagnostics and therapies or other related treatments as may be indicated and/or ordered by a
physician or other licensed independent practitioner and performed by respiratory care personnel, as per
departmental procedures.
13. Actively participates in the NORAM (non-operating room airway manager) training as provided by
anesthesia services program.
14. Performs bronchial hygiene, such as suctioning, and sputum sampling and induction as deemed necessary
by personal observation and/or upon request by the physician or other licensed independent practitioner.
15. RRTs participate as a member of the Code Blue team (resuscitation team), the Rapid Response Team
(RRT), and Medical Assistance Team (MAT) as assigned.
16. The respiratory therapist takes an active role in resuscitations and is responsible for airway management to
include but not limited to endotracheal intubation or Laryngeal Mask Airway placement, oxygen delivery,
ventilation, obtaining and analyzing arterial blood gas samples and any other care as may be required per
institutional policy or departmental procedures in an emergency immediately and without prior physician
notification.
17. Provide outpatient services including but not limited to diagnostic testing for oxygen evaluation, home sleep
testing and COPD care.
18. Manage or arrange delivery and set up of respiratory equipment such as home ventilators, sleep therapy
equipment, oxygen therapy equipment, airway clearance devices, and COPD/ALS adjunct therapies.
19. Provides instructions to the patient and his/her family regarding theory, operation, cleaning, and actual use
of cardiopulmonary treatment modalities to include but not limited to home suction devices, home
ventilators, cough assist and chest physiotherapy.
20. Act as a liaison between veteran's and contracted vendors providing services, advocating for veterans, and
ensuring prompt and appropriate delivery of services.
21. Follows standard precautions to prevent spread of disease. Ensures that aseptic technique and standard
precautions are always maintained.
22. Cleans, sterilizes, and assembles all respiratory care equipment as may be required per manufacturer or
departmental SOP. Performs routine adjustments as needed.
23. Document appropriately per departmental SOP and facility standards on all current charting platforms.
24. Assists in the development of new standard operating procedures, medical center policies, or protocols.
25. Utilizes continuous quality improvement tools and identifies performance improvement opportunities to
positively influence patient outcomes.
26. Participates in section competency programs and projects.
27. Uses word processing and workbook processing software to execute office automations functions such as
storing and retrieving electronic documents and files, activating printers, formatting letters, reports, and
memoranda and transmitting and receiving e-mail.
Work Schedule: 24 hour operations with 12 hour Tour of Duty.
Telework: Available (Ad-Hoc)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 51426-A/54141-A
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
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.
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/02/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12736984.
Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
This job originated on www.usajobs.gov. For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/837301300. Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.