Clarification from the agency

The area of consideration will be referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent Facility employees 2. Current permanent Agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) employees

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• Evaluate the orders received and communicate directly with the ordering physician any noted concerns about the order. Based on the order, the appropriate procedure is performed after identifying the patient and providing education to the patient per protocol. Routine information is gathered about the patient pre and post procedure to access the effectiveness of the therapy.
• Must be proficient with home mechanical ventilators, drawing and interpretation of arterial blood gases, CPR, oxygen delivery devices, suctioning of the airway, CPAP and Bilevel therapies, airway clearance maneuvers and proper infection control techniques. Utilized equipment includes ventilators, tracheostomy tubes, devices to improve efficiency of spontaneous cough as well as devices to facilitate the removal of pulmonary secretions, home testing devices, PAP devices and supplies. Must be able to give general education regarding sleep disorder breathing and treatment. Must be proficient in management of sleep devices as well as alternative options.
• Set the equipment per order or based on evaluation and adjustment per Standing operating procedure. Assess proper functioning of equipment and provide basic adjustment/repair per manufacturer recommendations.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of any interactions or therapy and documents in the medical record.
• Ensure that appropriate infection control standards are followed to protect the patient, self, and others.
• Complete a medical record note for each patient encounter and provide updated clinical information regarding patient changes and tolerance of interactions performed.
• Complete required employee education programs each year.
• Proficient in alternative forms of patient communications, such as telephone meetings, telemedicine, and skype meetings per VA protocol.
• Order supplies as needed for patients and assist with equipment resupply line as directed.
• Must be able to work in-patient respiratory care or other needed respiratory care throughout VA Puget Sound as directed by the Chief of Respiratory Sleep, or Director of Pulmonary Medicine or designee.
• Assist with work environment cleanliness, will help stock supplies, and clean equipment as well as all other duties as directed by the Chief of Respiratory Sleep Program.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible:Available
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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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: 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.
  • 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.

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:

Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-12

Experience, Licensure and Credential: Candidates must:

1. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. RRTs at this grade level in this assignment have experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment across many areas of respiratory care both inpatient and outpatient.
2. 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:

1. Ability to assign personnel and tasks to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of the workload.
2. Ability to oversee and direct clinical guidance in a manner that assures completion of the workload.
3. Ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds to solve problems and provide conflict resolution.
4. Ability to recommend uncommon or atypical interventions.
5. Ability to recommend ways to improve patient care and operations through independent research and evaluation of new equipment and therapies.

Assignments: For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Lead RRTs are found in higher complexity facilities (level 1 and 2) and the lead duties must be regular and reoccurring and must constitute at lead 25% of the duty time. This assignment may be established as day/evening/night and/or inpatient/outpatient. They ensure work is distributed among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization. Lead RRTs assure timely accomplishment of the assigned workload, assess the status, quality and progress of work and make day-today adjustments in accordance with established priorities. They provide clinical practice guidance for other respiratory staff and assist with technical work problems not covered by precedents or established policies for nonroutine or complex procedures. They assist RRTs in determining treatment options for complex patients. They study the quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and take or recommend needed actions. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings.

References: 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.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), pulling hand over hand (1-2 hours), use of fingers, walking (1-2 hours), standing, and repeated bending (1-2 hours). Environmental factors include constant noise and working alone.

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.