Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary)

This position is organizationally aligned to the Respiratory Care Unit, Medicine Service, at the Clement J. Zablocki VAMC. The primary purpose oft his position is to provide basic and advanced Respiratory services to adult and geriatric patients ;however, the therapist must be knowledgeable regarding the basic treatment of all age groups. Plans, implements, and evaluates the effectiveness of respiratory care procedures.

Major Duties:

• Incumbent serves as a Registered Respiratory Therapist throughout the hospital, performing duties under the scope of practice for the Respiratory Care Unit (RCU).
• Sets-up and monitors a variety of respiratory related equipment for acute care and long-term care patients, homecare, and diagnostic pulmonary testing. Assists the healthcare staff, including nursing and medical staff in determining equipment and therapeutic needs of the patients.
• Participates and assists in determining Respiratory staffing needs at CODE 4, Rapid Response and various facility events, disasters, or drills. Works closely with management personnel to provide optimal and appropriate staffing to ensure customer safety and care.
• Provides respiratory related in-services/training and competencies to other respiratory therapists, nurses, medical and ancillary staff as well as patient and patient caregivers as needed or assigned.
• Provides information and assists in coordinating training for the operation of respiratory equipment including the necessary cleaning and safety precautions.
• Completes work orders and provides follow up information on respiratory and pulmonary equipment to assure timely repair or performance maintenance or assessment.
• As Coordinator, assigns respiratory therapists according to their level of competence and experience.
• Education: Instruct patients and their families explaining the operation and use of respiratory equipment including treating procedures and providing reassurance and comfort.
• Works with Pulmonary Lab and Prosthetics department to provide patient assessment and appropriate interventions.
• Knowledge of respiratory pharmacology including an understanding of the various cases of respiratory drugs and their uses.
• Skill in identifying complications and interaction of drugs, to determine the effectiveness of the therapy being delivered to patients and to make recommendations to physicians regarding changes or alternatives to treatment.
• The employee must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills as identified in the Competence Assessment Checklist appropriate for the position.
• Employee must demonstrate the knowledge and skills to complete job assignments including knowledge and skills as detailed in the Age Specific Competencies checklist, and to safely and correctly operate equipment necessary to complete the duties of the position.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 06037F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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).

Grade Determinations:
Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-12.

Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must:. 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 out patient. Hold an active license and RRT credential.

Certification. Incumbent must hold a CPFT or RPFT.

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

• Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing to include but not limited to cardiopulmonary stress testing, exercise testing, metabolic testing, bronchoprovocation testing and shunt test.
• Ability to establish a quality control program related to pulmonary function lab.
• Skill in analyzing physiologic specimen and information from basic diagnostic procedures.
• Skill in assessing for signs and symptoms of adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures.
• Sill in determining appropriate intervention for adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures.
• Ability to provide training in advanced pulmonary function procedures.
• Ability to provide clinical consultation in advanced pulmonary function procedures.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS12.

Physical Requirements: Physical demands may include repetitive body movements including the following: frequent reaching, standing, walking, and lifting of equipment and/or patients to provide patient care. This position requires extension of the hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction including above or below shoulder level, during the provision of patient care, including retrieval of needed equipment, supplies and to make contact with the patient. This position may require the maintenance of an upright position to perform duties associated with patient care.

Note: Must have Basic Life Support (BLS) certification prior to assuming clinical duties. The BLS requirement is satisfied by successfully completing an American Heart Association (AHA) BLS Healthcare Provider Course or Military Training Network (MTN). BLS courses are normally offered within 1-5 days of entry on duty. No online certifications will be accepted.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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/.

• 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.
• 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.