Register Respiratory Therapist for the Home Respiratory Care Program (HRCP)/Staff Educator serves primarily providing staff orientation and education on a wide variety of topics, including but not limited to; evidence based respiratory practice, clinical guidelines, clinical procedures, protocols, equipment, research, emerging knowledge from publications, standards of care, regulatory standards and VHA directives located within the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital.

Duties

Services are rendered in collaboration with the ordering provider, either by specific orders, policy or established protocol. These functions and responsibilities are supported by education and administrative oversight. The primary services include, but are not limited to: - Demonstrates proficiency in outpatient clinics, VVC, and HRCP. - Provides recommendations based on assessment of patient and evaluation of the effectiveness of interventions. - Develops a care plan encompassing all respiratory care interventions and education needed by an individual veteran, includes veteran in the planning process. - Sets up and monitors complex respiratory care and diagnostic equipment such as invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilators. Titrates settings based on patient response and report to ordering physician. - Performs assessment and airway care for veterans with artificial/altered airways. - Develops and implements an orientation program; performs literature search, develops orientation materials and plans for new employees, coordinates learning activities and reports results to department leadership. - Acts as a preceptor and performs competency assessments. - Uses all available resources for teaching. - Identifies areas in need of improvement in new employees and provides corrective re-education. - Observes clinical performance of staff, performs audits to identify need for improvement - Identifies clinical experts to act as appropriate preceptors and follows up with them regarding employee development. - Mentors staff that express a desire or exhibit potential to become an educator. - Coordinates educational activities with other departments (e.g., physicians, nurses, nurse educators, case managers, ancillary staff, etc.) as needed. - Develops, prepares and participates in respiratory therapy-related education provided to patients, caregivers, students and hospital staff. - Completes annual education needs assessment. - Oversees ongoing validation of clinical competency (i.e., skills day) - Maintains staff orientation and ongoing education records. - Establishes a monthly education calendar. - Assists staff with educational presentations and acts as first line reviewer of all staff presentation material - Applies for Continuing Education Credit when appropriate. - Recommends corrective action plans for deficiencies found during surveys and audits and monitors for compliance. - Assists in identifying, analyzing, and recommending new services, protocols, equipment, etc. to enhance the quality of services delivered/care provided. - Participates on organizational committees as required, (HRCT, HRHO, Home Care Committee, and all others as delegated by Chief, HRCP). - Participates in development and updating of policies, procedures, protocols, templates and order sets. - Recommends changes in policy and practice in response to changes in medical practice/evidence, procedures or equipment, Joint Commission or other regulatory standards. - Participates in performance and continuous quality improvement initiatives and research activities/ Assists with outpatient Respiratory/Pulmonary programs as needed, such as HRCP, Sleep/PAP, Home Oxygen. - Performs assessments for complex, and/or new respiratory care modalities. - Assists with completion of department paperwork/audits. - Participates in development of annual continuous quality improvement plan. - Provides additional, non-traditional, respiratory care services as determined by Tampa VA and Respiratory Care department needs. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 07:30am to 4:00pm Will be required to work Weekends, Holidays, Disasters, etc. including various change in tours of duty. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, of this part. See 38 U.S.C. ? 7407(a) for more information. 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. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) 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. (DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED) 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. 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. 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 GS12: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). Experience, Education, Licensure and Certification. Candidates must: Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level, hold a Bachelor of Science (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) degree from a nationally accredited college or university in respiratory care, cardiopulmonary science or a health- related field and hold one of the education certifications for pulmonary disease for Patient Educator OR a certification for adult critical care specialist for Staff Educator. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Knowledge of instructional techniques to educate respiratory therapists in proper performance of respiratory processes and procedures. Ability to educate individuals of varying backgrounds. Skill in training RRTs, other staff and/or patients/caregivers on existing and newly acquired equipment, therapies and medications. Ability to determine the continuing education needs of staff to identify appropriate resources to meet those needs. Ability to develop clinical policy, procedures, protocols, competencies and simulations relative to respiratory care. Staff Educators. Staff Educators provide staff orientation and education on a wide variety of topics, including but not limited to; evidence based respiratory practice, clinical guidelines, clinical procedures, protocols, equipment, research, emerging knowledge from publications, standards of care, regulatory standards and VHA directives. They plan comprehensive teaching and training programs. They develop formal curriculum and administer clinical training programs for staff working towards completion of credentials, lower level RRTs and other facility staff, including physicians. They are instructors for the overall facility education program. They develop and implement the respiratory education program, including new employee orientation, continuous education and ongoing competency assessment. They create education plans, develop training materials and tools, create competencies, provide training and ensure continuing education credits are available for staff. They may provide the education/training in a classroom setting, electronically, via simulation or using any other acceptable method. They evaluate employees' progress and performance during orientation, provide feedback to supervisors and recommend interventions and remediation if needed. They keep abreast of current practice through literature review, membership in professional organizations, participation in research and attending seminars. They perform regular needs assessments and recommend changes in content to promote proper orientation, maintain and improve clinical competence and facilitate professional growth. They are a resource and mentor to respiratory staff. They assist the supervisor by evaluating new medical practices and equipment. Patient Educators. Patient Educators educate patients, families and/or caregivers in all aspects of their cardiopulmonary disease and the care needed during and following hospitalization or a clinic visit. The education they provide includes, but is not limited to; underlying disease, medications, therapeutic modalities, disease management and action plans. Education may be provided one-on-one during a face-to-face visit, in a classroom setting or via telehealth or using any other acceptable method for providing patient education. They provide information on available education resources within VA and the community. They assess current levels of knowledge, identify attitudes toward and barriers to learning, develop patient-specific education plans and provide education in the most appropriate setting based on the patient's needs. They assess level of retention and provide additional follow up education, when indicated. They develop education materials and identify strategies to promote optimal health. They may plan a set curriculum and deliver formal education either individually or in a group classroom environment. Patient Educators participate in discharge planning and collaborates with provider to ensure successful implementation of the home respiratory care plan. Education is provided on a continuum, beginning in the hospital or clinic and continuing into the home environment. They keep abreast of current practices through literature review, membership in professional organizations, participation in research and attending seminars. They serve as a content expert and participate in regular review of respiratory related patient education materials used by the respiratory department and/or facility and recommends changes based on emerging knowledge. They train other staff in respiratory related topics and strategies for patient education. Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. This assignment is designated as an Educator and can be designated as a Patient Educator, Staff Educator or a combination of both areas. Educators are responsible for the overall educational program for the specific area (patient, staff or combination) in respiratory care. They participate in the department's quality assurance program, especially with respect to identifying opportunities for improvement and developing quality and performance assessment tools. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings. References: VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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 James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US
• Name: Paula Velez
• Phone: 708-953-6248
• Email: [email protected]