Summary

The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) independently carries out respiratory duties for the assigned units. The RRT is responsible for selecting and adapting equipment and techniques to individual patients in order to comply with the physician's instructions.

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
• 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
• 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
• Preferred Experience: One (1) year of critical experience performing pulmonary function tests and bronchoscopy procedures
• Bachelor degree
• 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 Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation - see Duties section for essential job duties of the position
• May require standing - lifting - carrying - sitting - stooping - bending - puling - and pushing
• May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment
• Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions
• the area is adequately lighted - heated - and ventilated
• However - the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

Duties

• **Current permanent VA employees and Federal employees from other federal agencies should apply under CBST-12757378-25-SC.** Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The RRT provides respiratory care to patients on the Intensive Care Units - general wards - primary care clinics - subspecialty clinics - Community Living Center - Sleep Lab - Bronchoscopy Lab - Electrocardiogram Lab - Pulmonary Function Lab Recovery Room - and Emergency Department using the full range of Respiratory Services
• Major duties for the position include - but are not limited to: Performs emergency tracheal intubation upon certification
• Performs airway management during a cardiac or respiratory arrest
• Often assists with other aspects of CPR
• Responds to all STAT pages regarding a patient's respiratory - EKGs and ABGs status making an assessment and providing emergency ventilatory and/or oxygenation
• Initiates Mechanical Ventilation (MV) management - selecting the equipment and settings relative to the patient's needs
• This may also involve such modalities as high frequency ventilation - PEEP - and other state of the art techniques
• Monitors MV via ABG results - chest auscultation - chest X-rays - bedside pulmonary function - clinical observation and adjusts parameters accordingly
• Maintains the patient on mechanical ventilation providing periodic checks - appropriate troubleshooting - and equipment maintenance
• Removes patient from MV via appropriate monitoring and waning techniques to determine the patient's ability to breathe spontaneously
• Performs airway management responsibilities - to include suctioning - securing the airway - and other hygiene functions are shared with nursing personnel
• Performs suctioning-nasotracheal and endotracheal - chest physiotherapy - administration of aerosolized pharmacological agent - assistance with the selection - placement - monitoring - cuff integrity and subsequent change of both endotracheal and tracheostomy tubes
• Administers and monitors oxygen per policy and procedure manual
• Initiates hyperinflation therapies to include incentive spirometry or Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing in accordance with physician's orders and appropriateness of care
• Performs Arterial Blood Gas punctures (radial/brachial - and femoral sticks with physician approval) - analysis and reports results to physician and or primary nurse and may assist in the placement or drawing from indwelling arterial lines
• Measures static compliance - critical lung volumes and lows - and pressures for trend information
• Calculates additional complex formulas related to the patient's critical status
• Performs simple pulmonary function studies (vital capacity - tidal volumes - negative Inspiratory force - etc.) and recommends various forms of weaning procedures to the Attending Physician and house staff physicians
• Work Schedule: 3-2 split - 12 hour shifts - 0730-2000 or 1930-0800 - subject to change based on the needs of the facility
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00620F - 00621F - 00622F - 00623F
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized