A pulmonary function test (PFT) technician is a RRT that is responsible for providing direct, safe, appropriate and effective pulmonary function testing and care to patients in accordance with patient needs, current standards of pulmonary medicine practice, physician's orders and organizational policies under the direction and supervision of a physician. Accountabilities: Delivers safe, direct care to an assigned group of patients. Works within system and department policies.

Duties

Assess the respiratory status of patients using: Observation of patient pulse, respirations, and breath sounds; Recognition of abnormal arterial and venous blood gas reports Recognition of abnormal cardiac and hemodynamic monitoring Recognition of abnormal breathing patterns, e.g. Kussmal or Cheyne stokes Recognition of lidocaine toxicity during diagnostic bronchoscopy procedures Sets up, calibrates, troubleshoots and monitors complex respiratory equipment such as, but not limited to advanced pressure and volume ventilators. Administers Therapeutic modalities including Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Synchronized Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation (SIMV), and Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP). Sets up, troubleshoots, performs daily calibrations, maintains detailed quality control programs to include biologic studies which meet American Thoracic Society (ATS) standards and monitors complex Pulmonary Diagnostic equipment such as fully digitally integrated computerized PFT systems and high pressure gas cylinders. Administers all standard pulmonary function testing to gather data for use by physician in diagnosis and treatment of a variety of conditions, such as spirometry with and without bronchodilator (including bedside), flow volume loops, lung volumes, diffusion capacity, measurements of respiratory muscle strength, indirect calorimetry, shunt study, obtain arterial blood gases, insert arterial line for serial sampling, administer 6 minutes walk test, ambulatory oxygen test, stair climbing test, etc. Sets up, troubleshoots, calibrates, and monitors complex diagnostic bronchoscopy equipment such as, but not limited to advanced video bronchoscopes, video processors, digital light sources, digital color printers and mobile LED intubation video bronchoscopes, endobronchial ultrasound with bronchoscope, radial probes, medical thoracoscope, cryotherapy system, rigid bronchoscopy system Assist bronchoscopies. Assist advance diagnostics including EndoBronchial Ultrasonic (EBUS) biopsies, Radial EBUS Biopsies, Cryo biopsy with Arndt Endobronchial Blocker sets, Medical Pleuroscopy, Laryngoscopy. Assist Interventional Pulmonary therapeutics procedure: Assesses the effectiveness of the ventilation management being administered, and makes recommendations to physicians regarding possible changes in treatment. Participates with medical staff in treatment planning for respiratory patients. As appropriate, adjusts ventilator parameters to bring about a change in the patient's dependence on ventilators. Provides oxygen and life support to patients during cardiac and/or respiratory emergencies. Assists the physician with basic and complex intubation and extubation procedures. Performs various procedures to control and maintain artificial airways, i.e. tracheal lavage, endotracheal tube and tracheostomy care. Draws blood gas samples and recommends potential changes based on results of analyses. Performs and/or assists physicians with tests and studies Documents patient care and/or procedures performed in digital medical records, on worksheets, and/or in digital logs, as appropriate. Plans and conducts in-service education and/or training for hospital staff, students, patients, and families. May be required to function as a shift leader or sole responsible respiratory therapist on shift. Coordinates work load of lower grade therapists when appropriate. Cleans, check, and calibrates equipment used for respiratory care and diagnostic studies. Maintains work area, storage areas, special procedure rooms, crash carts and medical supply inventories. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 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. 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: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-12 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11 REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, GS-0601, Veterans Health Administration, dated March 12, 2021 The full performance level of this vacancy is 12. Physical Requirements: Must be able to lift to 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 Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: Evelyn Gaynor
• Email: [email protected]