Summary

The Respiratory Therapist is an integral part of the health care team and located in the Specialty Care Service at the West Roxbury - MA campus. This position is intermittent - twelve hour shifts with rotating days and nights - weekends and holidays.

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 (U.S.)
• Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a)
• License: All applicants must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full - current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Credentials: All applicants must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid - current - unrestricted credential of RRT
• Education: Completion of a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor
• English Language Proficiency: RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) Registered Respiratory Therapist GS-11: Experience - Licensure and Credential
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level
• Examples include but are not limited to: Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care Collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes
• Assessing oxygenation and ventilation
• Perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation
• Responsible for the following under general guidance in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings
• Consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty
• Manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient through the use of appropriate mechanical means
• Assess and evaluate patients to determine and recommend intervention to develop and implement a plan of care - such as - implementing protocols - intubation - monitoring critical systems and uses advanced modes of ventilation
• Provide outpatient services such as home ventilators - PAP therapy - oxygen therapy and COPD care
• 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: 1 YEAR CRITICAL CARE EXPERIENCE - REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPIST ONLY 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
• References: 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
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds)
• Light lifting (under 15 pounds)
• Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds)
• Light carrying (under 15 pounds)
• Pushing (some hours)
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (up to 4 hours)
• Standing (up to 3 hours)
• Kneeling (some hours)
• Repeated bending (some hours)
• Both legs required
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Both eyes required
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Ability to distinguish shades of colors
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• No skin allergies.

Duties

• The incumbent serves as a member of the Respiratory Therapy Section at the VISN 1 VA Healthcare System
• The Respiratory Therapy subsection is responsible for providing the full range of clinical procedures related to respiratory care
• The incumbent demonstrates the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the following duties within the scope of Respiratory Care
• Essential functions may change from time to time to reflect the current trends within the field of respiratory therapy - and to meet the cardio-pulmonary needs of the patients served
• Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Responsible for Mechanical Ventilation Management - CPAP/BiPAP Ventilation - Administration of Aerosolized Medication - Bronchial Hygiene - Airway Management - Oxygen Therapy - Aerosol Therapy
• Responsible for Diagnostic Testing such as bedside Spirometry - EKGs - Pulse Oximetry
• Assist Pulmonologist in Therapeutic Bronchoscopy procedures - Arterial Blood Gas sampling - and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• Responsible for performing Home Oxygen Evaluations - Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) - Bronchial Provocation Testing (Methacholine Challenge) - Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing - Home CPAP/BiP APNP AP set-ups with Compliance Checks - Mask Fitting and Dispensing - Patient Education - and basic maintenance
• Assess patients by history - pulmonary physical assessment - and chart review before the start of therapy
• Changes in these findings during therapy and results of therapy will be recorded
• Utilize knowledge regarding the use of medications in respiratory therapy and will observe the patient for desired and adverse effects of those medications - as well as the effects of the type of therapy delivering the medications
• Set up and monitors respiratory equipment such as invasive and noninvasive ventilators - end tidal CO2 monitors - oxygen delivery devices - and oximetry monitors
• Performs routine respiratory therapy treatment to hospital inpatients such as administering oxygen and therapeutic aerosols - incentive spirometry - and chest physical therapy
• Sputum specimens will be obtained by induction as ordered
• Patient education will be done in all aspects of respiratory care pertaining to the individual patient and according to the patient's or his/her family's ability to assimilate the information
• Work Schedule: Intermittent - rotating days - nights - weekends and holidays
• Telework: Not Available Compressed Work Schedule: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Title/Functional Statement #:Registered Respiratory Therapist-Specialty Care/PDF02865 - PDF02864 - PDF02863 - PDF02862 - and PDF02865 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Notifications: This position is not a Bargaining Unit position
• This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay
• This position is in the Excepted Service
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees
• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action)
• Not more than one year old - 52 weeks)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.