Clarification from the agency

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

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The Registered Respiratory Therapist is responsible for independently administering complex respiratory therapy treatment to ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients. The respiratory therapist uses judgment in identifying and selecting the most appropriate procedures, equipment, and techniques for application to specific cases. The therapist identifies and analyzes factors related to equipment operation and patient responses to discern their interrelationship.

• Consult literature on a regular basis (e.g. AARC Times, Respiratory Care, etc.) to stay acquainted with alternative modes of therapy and keep technically up to date.
• Cleans, sets up, and monitors a variety of complex respiratory equipment such as oxygen equipment, mechanical ventilators, CPAP/BIPAP machine, and therapeutic gas administration apparatus for critical care patients.
• Follows all respiratory care Sputum Collection for Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB), Rapid Response Team (RRT), and ventilator wearing protocols to include Bronchodilator Therapy Protocol and Oxygen Protocols.
• Performs diagnostic tests to include arterial blood gas analysis, spirometry, pulse oximetry, weaning parameters, peak flow, end tidal C02, metabolic, and negative inspiratory force.
• Performs or assists with bedside bronchoscopies to include right BALs as ordered by a pulmonary physician.
• Performs all respiratory care procedures throughout the medical center, to include sputum collection for AFB, therapeutic aerosols, metered dose inhalers, oxygen therapy, chest physical therapy, and breathing exercises.
• Evaluates efficacies of therapeutic modalities.
• Initially and continuously assess the cardiopulmonary condition of assigned patients using data acquired through physical examination and respiratory monitoring and diagnostic equipment.
• Administers oxygen involving the use of variety of standard respiratory equipment to include low flow and high flow systems.
• Administers oxygen involving the use of variety of standard respiratory equipment to include low flow and high flow systems.
• Performs airway and tube care on patients including nasotracheal and endotracheal suctioning, cleaning and securing the tracheostomy and endotracheal tube and site, changing endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes per physician's order, monitoring tube cuff pressure, and inspecting equipment and patient to ensure proper functioning of the ventilator.
• Provides patient education for inpatients, outpatients, and home care pulmonary rehabilitation to include such things as respiratory therapy equipment, Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD), chest physiotherapy and/or postural drainage, breathing exercise, metered dose inhaler treatments, nebulizer treatments, suctioning, peak flows, arterial blood gases, oxygen therapy, and other mucus clearing clearance devices such as PEP therapy and Flutter valves, etc.
• Performs advanced ventilatory management.
• Maintains ACLS and BLS provider status with appropriate certifications.
• Obtains blood gas samples from patients through arterial punctures or from arterial catheters. Analyzes, interprets, and reports blood gas results.
• Provides in-service training to other respiratory therapists, nursing service personnel, physicians, and students relative to respiratory care.
• Demonstrates appropriate verbal and written communication skills in interaction with patients, staff, and visitors.
• Communicates with Supervisor (or Shift Leader in Supervisor's absence) any changes or fluctuations in assignments.
• Inspects, cleans, tests, and properly calibrates respiratory therapy equipment, according to policy and procedure, to ensure equipment functioning safely and efficiently, placing work orders for repairs when necessary.
• Records treatment, findings, assessments, and patient education and progress notes in CPRS and CliniComp.
• Assists with smoking cessation, home oxygen or ventilator assessment/visits, patient transports, and continued quality improvement.
• Actively participates in multidisciplinary team meetings to include team meetings in MICU/SICU, and physician rounds in the intensive care units.
• Works as part of the team of physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals to manage patient care.
• Attends all mandatory training in-services as directed by the supervisor or Medical Center.
• Serves as shift leader in the absence of the supervisor.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Available shifts 7:30pm-8am
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 21R77-A
EDRP Authorized: Contact the EDRP Coordinator, VISN2EDRPCoordinators@va.gov for questions/assistance. Learn more
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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 evaluation.
• 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.

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
• 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).

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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs below:

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11
Do you have the following experience, licensure and credential?
Candidates must have:
i. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.
ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
i. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.
ii. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.
iii. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management

Assignments. This assignment is the full performance level. RRTs at this grade level work independently providing respiratory care in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings. The specific assignments are dependent on facility structure and complexity levels. They use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met. They consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty. They manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means. RRTs determine and implement complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, bronchoscopy, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation. They monitor critical systems. They use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services, such as home ventilators and COPD case management. RRTs suggest alternate modes of treatment where indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment. RRTs at this grade level may perform invasive procedures such as arterial line placement. They serve as a preceptor to lower graded staff. They may lead projects developing new policies, procedures or protocols.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Standards. 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.