The Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary) is assigned to the Pulmonary Disease Section of the Medical Care Line at the Houston, VA Medical Center. The Registered Respiratory Therapist works independently providing respiratory care in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings and must be able to use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met.

Duties

If you are a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should applyCBST-12031588-23-LD. Duties of the Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary) are, but not limited to: Performs all aspects of Respiratory Care and Pulmonary Diagnostic studies/procedures and assessment in accordance to established policies, procedures and Joint Commission, and ATS guidelines. Performs all aspects of bronchoscopic procedures. Participates in annual conscious sedation training and adheres to all policies, procedures and guidelines established for bronchoscopic and related procedures. Performs Pulmonary Function procedures to include spirometry with and without a bronchodilators, diffusion studies, and lung volume measurements, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, plythysmography, bronchial provocation testing and other testing as the scope of function expands in the area. Provides related patient instruction, testing, scheduling, equipment/computer setup and interface, calibrations, routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and preliminary review of diagnostic data. Prioritizes consults which include scheduling to the appropriate clinic, assists physicians with pulmonary diagnostic related concerns, and arterial blood gas sampling and analysis. Resolves technical work problems with the aid of references, such as manuals, troubleshooting guides, technical support and other reference sources. Reports progress and resolution of problems to Home Oxygen/Diagnostic Section Coordinator, Chief, Respiratory Care or Medical Director, respectively. Conducts home oxygen evaluations and re-assessments to determine the need for initiating or terminating oxygen based on appropriate policies, procedures and guidelines for testing, secondary to other diagnostic functions as needed or as directed. Participates in the complex decision making process of respiratory care at many levels: patient observation, examination and education equipment preparation and usage, data collection and analysis, and evaluation of the need for initiation of, termination or modification of the services. Performs all aspects of Respiratory Care to include, but are not limited to mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, oximetry assessments, bronchodilator therapy, hyperinflation therapy and chest physical therapy, arterial blood gas sampling and analysis, and routine maintenance for all respiratory/ diagnostic studies. Provides care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assigned area (i.e. adult and geriatric patient populations). Provides patient care, which is appropriate to the cognitive, emotional, and chronological maturation needs of the young adult (age 18-45 years old), middle adult (age 45-65 years old), and older adult (age 65-older) patients. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:pm, or 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 580-00734-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: 1) United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2) English Language Proficiency: RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38U.S.C. 7403(f). 3) Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor. 4) 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. 5) 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 from the National Board of Respiratory Care. Grade Determinations: Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary), GS-12 Experience,LicensureandCredential.Candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. Hold an active license and RRT credential. Certification. Incumbent must hold a CPFT or RPFT Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing to include but not limited to cardiopulmonary stress testing, exercise testing, metabolic testing, bronchoprovocation testing and shunt testing. Ability to establish a quality control program related to pulmonary function lab. Skill in analyzing physiologic specimen and information from basic diagnostic procedures. Skill in assessing for signs and symptoms of adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. Skill in determining appropriate intervention for adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. Ability to provide training in advanced pulmonary function procedures. Ability to provide clinical consultation in advanced pulmonary function procedures. Preferred Experience: Current active Registered Respiratory Therapist licensure. Current BLS/ACLS certification. Experienced with Bronchoscopy, PFT, and Home Oxygen CPFT/RPFT certification. References: VA Handbook 5005/141, Part II, Appendix G11, Registered Respiratory Therapist Qualification Standard, dated March 12, 2021. The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: The work requires standing and walking for prolonged periods of time. The therapist must frequently bend, reach, stoop, and stretch to set up and disassemble respiratory equipment, position patients, perform CPR and push/pull moderately heavy objects such as ventilators. The work requires above average dexterity and agility to perform intricate respiratory therapy procedures in confined areas of the intensive care units. Moderate lifting is required to move equipment throughout the Pulmonary Clinic and other Medical Center locations. Considerable manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination are continuously required during Pulmonary Diagnostic procedures. This includes continuous observation of a computer screen. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation demands coordination and stamina. The work also requires wearing moderately weight led aprons when assigned to the Bronchoscopy Lab.

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 Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center 2002 Holcombe Boulevard Houston, TX 77030 US
• Name: Latrice Dean
• Phone: 501-257-1752
• Email: [email protected]