This position is located at Erie VA Medical Center, under the technical and administrative supervision of the Chief, Respiratory Care Services, the Medical Direction of the Chief of Staff and the administrative supervision of the Chief, Nursing Services.

Duties

Work Schedule: variable shifts, including days, evenings, holidays and rotating weekends Functional Statement #: REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, T38 Hybrid - GS-0601-12 The incumbent is responsible for high quality performance of outpatient and inpatient respiratory care. The services include, but are not limited to, the following activities performed with little or no direct supervision: * Home sleep testing * Home oxygen evaluations and ordering * Patient instruction on sleep disorders and use of therapeutic equipment. A Registered Respiratory Therapist may perform other duties, both major and minor, that are not mentioned below. Essential functions may change from time to time to reflect the current trends within the field of respiratory therapy, and to meet the Respiratory needs of the patients served. * Administration of medical gases. * Humidity and aerosol therapy. * Administration of aerosolized medications. * Incentive spirometry. * Bronchopulmonary hygiene. * Management and maintenance of natural airways. * Maintenance of artificial airways. * Management and maintenance of mechanical ventilation. * Measurement of ventilatory flows, volumes and pressures. * Arterial blood gas puncture and analysis, * Reporting of Overnight Pulse oximetry testing. * Home Nebulizer instruction. * Home Oxygen evaluation/re-evaluation. * Performs emergency and acute respiratory care procedures in accordance with the departmental policy and procedure manual. * Actively participates in departmental quality assurance and hospital-wide organizational performance improvement activities. * CPAP/Bi-level/VPAP set-ups Compressed/Flexible:Available 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: 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. (1) 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. (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. (e) Failure to Obtain Credential. In all cases, RTs must actively pursue meeting national prerequisites for the RRT credential from the first day of their appointment. Failure to become credentialed within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0601 RT series and may result in termination of employment. The Human Resources (HR) Office staff will provide RTs, in writing, the requirement to 1) obtain their RRT credential; 2) the date by which the RRT credential must be acquired; and 3) the consequences for not becoming RRT credentialed by the deadline. The HR Office staff must provide the written notice to selectees prior to entrance on duty date and maintain a copy in the electronic Official Personnel Folder. (2) Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials. An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment. Once credentialed, licensed or certified, RTs/RRTs must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care. 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). 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: Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-12. (a) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have: i. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. The following certifications are desirable but not required: a. CPFT, b. RPFT or c. RPSGT. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: i. Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing and stress/exercise testing. ii. Ability to maintain a quality control program related to pulmonary function testing. iii. Ability to treat acute complications for all pulmonary function testing. iv. Skill in performing polysomnographic studies to include obtaining both physiologic and diagnostic data. v. Skill in calibrating and troubleshooting polysomnographic equipment and physiologic and diagnostic monitoring. References: VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11 REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, GS-0601 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Must be able to lift 30 pounds, assist patients with transfers or ambulation. The position requires several miles of walking per day within the health center and at times may require climbing several flights of stairs. There may also be sedentary work where the therapist will be sitting for several continuous hours.

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 Erie VA Medical Center 135 East 38th Street Erie, PA 16504 US
• Name: Margie Brooks
• Phone: (412) 822-1090
• Email: [email protected]