Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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

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
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
(a) 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 38 U.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-07 level
5 (b) 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
(c) RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT
(d) Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment
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)
Grandfathering Provision: A Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) employed in VHA on the effective date of the qualification standard 06/12/2021 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
For employees who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-0601-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting the full qualification requirements
Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 3 above - all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment as follows: GS 05 Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Experience - None beyond the basic requirements
GS 07 Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Experience - Education - Licensure and Registration
In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must possess their RRT credential
Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
In addition to the requirements above - candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care
Skill in analyzing physiological specimens obtained to include arterial blood gases - pulse oximetry - End tidal Co2 (ETCo2) monitoring - basic spirometry and other basic diagnostic procedures
Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes
Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation
Ability to perform basic airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation
GS 09: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)Experience or Education - Licensure and Credential Candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level
Clinical competencies include but are not limited to: Complete patient assessment through direct contact - chart review and other means as appropriate and share the information with health care team members
use accepted measuring/monitoring tools for determining plan of care
place nasal and oropharyngeal airway and perform nasal and tracheal suctioning
obtain - analyze and report arterial and venous blood gas samples
provide outpatient services - such as positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy - oxygen therapy and COPD care
OR A Master of Science degree in respiratory care AND a license AND an RRT credential
Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
In addition to the requirements above - candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care
Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes
Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation
Ability to perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation
GS 11 Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) 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
Clinical competencies include but are not limited to: Obtain - interpret and analyze physiological specimens and data
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
AND 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 in the range of GS-5 to GS-11
Physical Standards: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

Registered Respiratory Therapist position is in Specialty Care services at White River Junction VA Healthcare System located in White River Junction - VT
This position is full-time at 40 hours per week
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: Monday - Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm - With every other weekend 7:00am to 7:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Functional Statement #: F02862 - F02863 - F02864 - F02865 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
Contact Hannah.Neilson@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Notifications: This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit
This position is on a special salary rate
This position is in the Excepted Service
Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees
Current Federal employees must 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
No award SF-50's will be accepted
Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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