Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist

The Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist is responsible for providing basic and advanced Respiratory services to adult and geriatric patients at the Southern Nevada Healthcare System VA Medical Center; however, the therapist must be knowledgeable regarding the basic treatment of all age groups. The Therapist plans, implements and evaluates the effectiveness of respiratory care procedures.

• Assists and advises all respiratory staff members which includes, at a minimum, assigning and evaluating the work of the staff, managing staff schedules, and approving leave requests.
• Recommends and implements changes in organization or work assignments and responsibilities to improve work, services, and job satisfaction.
• Assumes responsibility that respiratory care services will be delivered to patients on a 24-hour basis, 7 days a week if applicable.
• Assesses and evaluates staff qualifications and competency upon employment and on an ongoing basis.
• Manages the care and maintenance of respiratory therapy equipment. Maintains current inventory of all equipment utilized, assumes responsibility of care and procurement of same. Determines safety and efficiency of equipment using medical center safety policies and OSHA as a reference.
• Collaborates with Biomedical Engineering to establish procedures for control of medical equipment.
• Assumes responsibility for implementation of infection control measures in respiratory care and pulmonary function testing areas.
• Maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals, coordinates and assists in resolving issues.
• Resolves problems which may interfere with patient examination or treatment.
• Reviews and recommends new and emerging equipment and procedures.
• Provides instruction and training to new staff.
• Reviews, collects, and evaluates relevant clinical data.
• Formulates an appropriate respiratory therapy plan based upon patient assessment.
• Communicates orally and in writing, changes, adjustments, and recommendations with other healthcare team members.
• Provides effective education and training to patients, students, and co-workers as appropriate.
• Performs both fundamental and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for adult and geriatric patients. Examples include but not limited to: Arterial puncture, blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy assistance, pulmonary rehabilitation, endotracheal intubation, oxygen administration etc.
• Performs emergency and acute respiratory therapy procedures in accordance with hospital and respiratory department guidelines.
• Actively participates in departmental quality assurance and hospital-wide organizational performance improvement activities.
• Maintains clinical and professional competency based upon established standards of practice.
• Assembles, checks, and corrects malfunctions and performs quality controls on respiratory therapy equipment and technology-based equipment.
• May serve as therapist-in-charge when assigned and/or in the absence of the Chief of Respiratory Care.
• Promotes a customer-centered environment, taking personal responsibility for problem solving and effective courteous communication with patients, their families, medical staff, students, and co-workers.
• Provides patient care, which is appropriate to the cultural, cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the adult and/or geriatric patient.
• A Respiratory Therapist will demonstrate the ability to utilize computer-based technologies, software, and programs.
• Attends or has access to all annual and mandatory in-services, required meetings and continuing education programs.
• Formulates goals for professional development annually.
• Participates in performance improvement and research activities.
• Maintains BCLS and ACLS certifications
• Keeps abreast of information and skills related to program area.
• Shares in the construction of monthly schedules.
• Performs or assists with the collection of QM/PI data as required for programs.
• Consistently participates in constructive information exchange via email, informal discussion, and planned meetings.
• Demonstrates cooperative interactions with co-workers.
• Works with other members of the healthcare team to provide appropriate and timely care for the patients.
• Will remain competent in all respiratory care procedures and will work as assigned by Team Leader and/or supervisor.
• Aids other staff when time is available
• Flexes assignment as workloads fluctuate throughout the shift.
• Demonstrates active listening skills.
• Communicates with patients, family members and other healthcare providers in a clear manner.
• Demonstrates appropriate verbal and written communication skills in interactions with patients, staff, and visitors.
• Communicates with Team Leader/Program Leader/Supervisor when fluctuations in assignments or changes in patient condition occur.

Work Schedule: Various times
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: 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.
• Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).
• Candidates must possess and maintain a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• You must possess and maintain a valid, current, unrestricted credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• You must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor.

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:

GS-12:

Experience - You must have at least 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. Experience at the GS-11 level includes:

• Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing and stress/exercise testing.
• Ability to maintain a quality control program related to pulmonary function testing.
• Ability to treat acute complications for all pulmonary function testing.
• Skill in performing polysomnographic studies to include obtaining both physiologic and diagnostic data.
• Skill in calibrating and troubleshooting polysomnographic equipment and physiologic and diagnostic monitoring

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

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

Preferred Experience: 1 year as a GS-11, critical care experience, able to provide training in respiratory therapy.

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

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in patient care areas, in-patient and outpatient. Extensive interaction with patients, staff, physicians, family members, and visitors is involved. Moving equipment and supplies, lifting, bending, stooping, and possible exposure to body fluid is involved. This position has been evaluated as a Level 1 in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) definition of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens. Level 1 Positions in this category require the performance of tasks that are exposed to blood and potentially infectious body fluid.

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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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 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.