Summary

The Registered Respiratory Therapist serves as a member of the Respiratory Therapy Section of Medical Service at the Montana VA Healthcare System. The Respiratory Therapy subsection is responsible for providing the full range of clinical procedures related to respiratory care in the inpatient - outpatient - setting - as assigned.

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.

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3g this part) English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized 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-0601series 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-0601series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid - current - unrestricted credential of RRT
• Exception
• RT positions will be designated only to individuals who are in the process of obtaining credentials to become an RRT
• These individuals will only be hired on a temporary appointment as provided below
• VHA may waive the RRT credential requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified and pending completion of prerequisites for RRT credential
• Individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor - acquired the CRT credential - are fully licensed by their state and are working toward completion of their RRT credential may be given a temporary appointment as an RT
• The temporary appointment is made under the authority of 38U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) for a period not to exceed one year from date of employment
• Candidates must hold an active - current - full and unrestricted RRT credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07level
• RTs may only be temporarily appointed at the GS-05 level and may not be promoted/converted to a higher-level position as an RRT until the RRT credential is received
• RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT
• Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Credential
• In all cases - RTs must actively pursue meeting national prerequisites for the RRT credential from the first day of their appointment
• Failure to become credentialed within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0601 RT series and may result in termination of employment
• The Human Resources (HR) Office staff will provide RTs - in writing - the requirement to 1) obtain their RRT credential
• 2) the date by which the RRT credential must be acquired
• and3)the consequences for not becoming RRT credentialed by the deadline
• The HR Office staff must provide the written notice to selectees prior to entrance on duty date and maintain a copy in the electronic Official Personnel Folder
• 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: 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
• 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: Work is primarily performed in patient care areas - inpatient and outpatient
• Extensive interaction with patients - staff - physicians - family members and visitors involved
• Moving equipment and supplies - lifting to 40 pounds - bending - and stooping
• 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
• The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification
• It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties - responsibilities and qualifications required of the Registered Respiratory Therapist.

Duties

• Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include - but are not limited to: Administer treatment to ambulatory - non-ambulatory and critically ill patients in the inpatient - outpatient - and home setting as assigned
• Use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met
• Consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty
• Manage and maintaining the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means
• Determine and implementing complex respiratory care such as protocols - respiratory modalities - bronchoscopy - medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation
• Monitor critical systems
• Use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services - such as home ventilators and COPD case management
• Suggest alternate modes of treatment when indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment
• May lead projects developing new policies - procedures - or protocols
• May collect - review - and evaluate relevant clinical data from the medical records - care team - patient - and patient's family to ensure appropriate care when indicated
• Incumbent will be capable of performing both basic and complex therapeutic procedures for adults and geriatric patients
• Example: monitoring patients receiving mechanical ventilation - assisting with bronchoscopy - using techniques that include interpretation of clinical data - describing and interpreting arterial blood gas values and acid base balance - inserting arterial lines
• Apply clinical expertise in such a manner as to upgrade patient care when indicated and assist the provider in formulating an appropriate respiratory care plan based upon patient assessment - history - lung auscultation - chest x-ray - pulse oximetry - etc
• Communicate changes in the respiratory care plan and/or patient status to other health care team members as appropriate
• Additionally - the incumbent will make recommendations to providers regarding changes in treatment based upon patient observation and diagnostic test values Provide effective and relevant education to the patient - family - students - and facility staff when appropriate in either the inpatient - outpatient - or home setting as assigned
• May perform both fundamental and advanced diagnostic procedures
• May perform both emergency and acute Respiratory Care procedures in accordance with departmental guidelines and industry standards
• Participate in departmental quality assurance and hospital organizational performance improvement
• Comply with all medical center policies and procedures regarding safety practices and demonstrate working knowledge of the appropriate safety protocols
• Maintain clinical and professional competency based upon established standards of practice
• Assembles - checks - and corrects malfunctions and performs quality controls on respiratory care equipment in either the inpatient - outpatient - or home setting as assigned
• Participate in in-service education pertaining to respiratory therapy - maintaining a close relationship with other disciplines and students who may rotate through the health care facility
• May provide care through outpatient services such as face to face - TELE/VVC - or home setting as part of the HBPC program - as assigned
• Duties may include but are not limited to monitoring compliance - education on equipment setup/care and supply ordering for positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy - and routine COPD management - pulmonary function testing - pulmonary rehab - and pulmonary bronchoscopy procedures
• Work Schedule: Alternating Monday - Friday and Tuesday - Saturday - 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 436-51476-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized