The Registered Respiratory Therapist inpatient care position is located within Specialty Care Clinic at the Lexington VA Medical Center. The therapist will consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within the area of specialty. The therapist manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means. This grade level work independently providing respiratory care in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings.

Duties

Major duties: Works independently providing both inpatient and/or outpatient care. Use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met. Use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services, such as home ventilators and COPD case management. Determine and implement complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, bronchoscopy, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation. Suggest alternate modes of treatment where indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment. Reviews, collects and evaluates relevant clinical data. Maintains OOORAM certification. Performs intubations and airway management. Communicates orally and in writing, changes, adjustments and recommendations with other healthcare team members. Will take on-call on a regular basis. Provides effective education and training to patients, students and co-workers as appropriate. Documents all patient/family instruction/ education for inpatients and outpatients on all respiratory equipment needs to include safety, cleaning, and basic preventative maintenance and all treatments, findings, and process pertinent to patient care. Actively participates in departmental quality assurance and hospital-wide organizational performance improvement activities. Attends all mandatory training/in-services as directed by supervisor. Ensures the equipment and related medical supplies provided are appropriate to the care delivered and to the home environment to include ventilator needs. Performs both fundamental and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for adult and geriatric patients. Examples include but not limited to: Artline blood collection, arterial puncture, blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy assistance, pulmonary rehabilitation, endotracheal intubation, oxygen administration etc. Maintain clinical and professional competency based upon established standards of practice. May serve as therapist-in-charge when assigned and/or in the absence of the Chief of Respiratory Care. Demonstrate the ability to utilize computer based technologies, software and programs. Work Schedule: Compressed 7:00a.m. -7:30 p.m. (6x12hr shifts, 1x8hr shift per PP) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required EDRP Authorized: Yes, please contact [email protected], the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Requirements

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. 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). 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. 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). Grandfathering Provision: The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Grade Determinations: Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11 Experience: GS-11 Registered Respiratory Therapist: Candidates must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level to include the following: 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. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate 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. Skills in performing advanced airway and ventilation management Assignment: 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: VA Handbook 5005-141 Part II Appendix G11, Dated 03/12/2021 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: To perform in a fully successful manner, the individual must have the physical ability to perform job-related duties which require lifting, standing, bending, transferring, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, or pulling without assistance from another patient care provider or significant other. A health examination must be successfully complete prior to this assignment and periodically thereafter as required by the Employee Health Clinic policy. There will be exposure to blood and body fluids. The health care field is a very changing spectrum which requires constant updating of knowledge. It is therefore important that the incumbent participates in continuing education that will enhance health care skills and knowledge. Other duties may be assigned in support of the facilities mission.

Education

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Lexington VA Health Care System 2250 Leestown Road Lexington, KY 40511 US
• Name: Kimberley Wilkinson
• Phone: 713-791-1414
• Email: [email protected]