Registered Respiratory Therapists at the full performance 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 the 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.

Duties

The major duties of the Registered Respiratory Therapist position will include: A. Management of Chronic Diseases 1. Understand the etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases (e.g., asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and comorbidities. 2. Communicate and educate to empower and engage patients. 3. Develop, administer, and re-evaluate patient care plans. B. Management of Acute Diseases 1. Develop, administer, evaluate, and modify respiratory care plans in the acute-care setting, using evidence-based medicine, protocols, and clinical practice guidelines. 2. Communicate and educate to empower and engage patients. 3. Develop, administer, and re-evaluate patient care plans. A. Evidence-Based Medicine 1. Retrieve credible sources of evidence. 2. Critique published research 3. Explain the meaning of general statistical tests. B. Respiratory Care Protocols 1. Explain the use of evidence-based medicine in the development and application of hospital- based respiratory care protocols. 2. Evaluate and treat patients in a variety of settings, using the appropriate respiratory care protocols. Area Ill: Patient Assessment A. Patient Assessment 1. Complete the assessment through direct contact, chart review, and other means as appropriate and share the information with healthcare team members. 2. Obtain medical, surgical, and family history. 3. Obtain social, behavioral, and occupational history, and other historical information incident to the purpose of the current complaint. B. Diagnostic Data 1. Review and interpret arterial blood gases, electrolytes, complete blood cell count, and related laboratory tests. 2. Review chest X Rays. C. Physical Examination 1. Inspect the chest and extremities to detect deformation, cyanosis, edema, clubbing, and other anomalies. 2. Measure vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate). 3. Evaluate patient breathing effort, ventilatory pattern, and use of accessory muscles. 4. Measure and document oxygen saturation with oximetry under all appropriate conditions (with or without oxygen at rest and during sleep, ambulation, and exercise). Area lV: Emergency and Critical Care A. Emergency Care 1. Perform basic life support (BLS), advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) according to American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. 2. Maintain knowledge and skills necessary to retain certification as per associated guidelines as stated above. 3. Perform as a member of the rapid response team (medical emergency team). 4. Participate in mass-casualty staffing to provide airway management, manual and mechanical ventilatory life support, medical gas administration, aerosol delivery of bronchodilators and other agents in the resuscitation of respiratory and cardiovascular failure. 5. Manage monitoring system. 6. Manage airway devices. 7. Make treatment recommendations based on waveform graphics, pulmonary mechanics, and imaging studies. Area V: Assessment of Therapeutics A. Assessment of Need for Therapy - Assesses the need for therapies in all patient settings. 1. Medical gas therapy 2. Humidity therapy 3. Aerosol therapy 4. Lung expansion therapy 5. Airway clearance therapy 6. Airway management B. Assessment Prior to Therapy 1. Review order and/or implement protocol. 2. Review patient history, laboratory results, and imaging data. 3. Determine indications/contraindications for therapy. 4. Interview and conduct physical examination of patient. 5. Determine appropriateness of order. 6. Determine need for physician intervention. C. Administration of Therapy 1. Select and assemble equipment. 2. Apply and administer therapy. 3. Monitor patient's response to therapy. 4. Instruct patient on proper technique. 5. Recognize and rectify equipment malfunction (troubleshooting). 6. Follow Standard Precautions for infection control. D. Evaluation of Therapy 1. Recognize complications and respond to adverse effects. 2. Recommend therapy modifications. 3. Assess therapy effectiveness. 4. Document therapy. Area VI: Application of Therapeutics to Respiratory Care Practice A. Medical Gas Therapy - Apply knowledge, understanding, and troubleshooting skills to gas delivery systems in all patient settings 1. Evaluate compressed gas cylinders. 2. Evaluate regulators and flow meters. 3. Evaluate liquid-oxygen systems (stationary and portable). 4. Evaluate oxygen concentrators (stationary and portable). 5. Evaluate oxygen conserving devices. 6. Evaluate high-flow air-entrainment systems. 7. Evaluate oxygen and air-flow-meter mixing systems. 8. Evaluate air/oxygen blenders. 9. Evaluate nasal cannulas. 12. Evaluate high-flow nasal cannulas. 13. Evaluate non-reservoir masks. Work Schedule: 7:00am to 7:30pm, every other weekend and holiday. Telework: Not available. Functional Statement #: 91439-A, GS-11. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Requirements

Qualifications

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. Please select the response below, that represents how you meet the education requirement. 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). Grade Determinations, GS-11 Registered Respiratory Therapist: Experience or Education, 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. 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; OR, A Master of Science degree in respiratory care AND a license AND an RRT credential. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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. 2. Hold an active license and RRT credential. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/141, Part II, Appendix G11. Physical Requirements: a. Considerable walking/standing may be required. b. Frequent lifting, positioning, pushing/pulling may be required when assisting with the transfer of patients or when moving equipment or supplies. c. Frequent, prolonged extensive or considerable sitting is often required. d. Manual dexterity and mobility are required. e. Frequent reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling or crouching may be necessary. f. Moderate physical effort (ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds) may be occasionally required. g. Intermittent exertion is possible. h. Subject to interruptions and stress from multiple calls, patient needs and/or inquiries from others, whether in-person, on the telephone or via computer. i. Sound judgement and ability to function under stress is required. Inappropriate actions/judgment, especially those during emergency or crisis situations, may result in injury or death.

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 Cincinnati VA Medical Center 3200 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45220 US
• Name: Amanda Flores
• Email: [email protected]