The incumbent serves as a member of the Respiratory Therapy Section of Medical Service at the VISN 15 St. Louis VA Healthcare System. The Respiratory Therapy subsection is responsible for providing the full range of clinical procedures related to respiratory care.

Duties

Inpatient Respiratory Care (essential functions): Administers a variety of complex respiratory therapy treatments Complete patient assessment through direct contact, chart review, and other means as appropriate and share the information with healthcare team members Measure vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate) Measure and document oxygen saturation with oximetry under all appropriate conditions (with or without oxygen at rest and during sleep, ambulation, and exercise) Evaluate patient breathing effort, ventilatory pattern, and use of accessory muscles and inspect the chest and extremities to detect deformation, cyanosis, edema, clubbing, and other anomalies Knowledge of the pharmacology of common respiratory drugs, common dosages, typical and atypical patient responses and side effects is required. Oxygen Therapy Obtain medical, surgical, family, social, behavioral, and occupational history, and other historical information incident to the purpose of the current complaint Review and interpret pulmonary mechanics at the bedside, to include but not limited to vital capacity and negative inspiratory force (NIF) Initiates, evaluates and educates on the use of Capnography. Calibrates, trouble-shoots and trends results Aerosol and MDI Therapy to include training and education to patient and family regarding therapy Performs airway clearance therapy to include but not limited to postural drainage, Vest therapy, chest physiotherapy and cough assist All aspects of mechanical ventilation (invasive and non-invasive) (i.e. BiPAP, CPAP, Ventilators, etc.) Intra-hospital transport of critically ill patients being mechanically ventilated (invasive or non-invasive) Respond to all Code K situations and Rapid Response calls and is expected to be proficient in basic CPR, Emergency Airway Management to include intubation and provide ventilation with use of resuscitation bag. Responsible to maintain Out of OR airway certification including intubation checkoff. Intubation, must maintain OOORAM certification Extubation Blood gas procurement for analysis via arterial puncture Review and interpret arterial blood gases, electrolytes, complete blood cell count, and related laboratory tests and recommend appropriate interventions and/or adjustments in therapy based on results Total airway care and management, including the care and management of artificial airways Bedside diagnostic respiratory testing Participate in daily inter-disciplinary rounds Recognize changes in patient's condition and respond appropriately Monitor and thoroughly document effectiveness and patient response to all therapies Management of Acute and Chronic Respiratory Disease including understanding the etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases. Bronchoscopy, to include EBUS prep and assist Able to develop, administer, evaluate, reevaluate, and modify respiratory care plans both the acute and home setting utilizing evidence-based medicine, protocols, and clinical practice guidelines to provide quality care. Communicate and educate to engage and empower patients with respiratory disease Communicate effectively and efficiently with other members of the health care team on patient response to therapy, change in condition, and recommend alternative therapies when appropriate Set up, cleaning, calibration, and troubleshooting of all respiratory equipment Reports concerns/problems according to policy and procedure Outpatient Respiratory Care (essential functions): Assist in the outpatient cardiopulmonary clinics where they may have responsibility for performing PFT's and 6-minute walks, etc. Work with home oxygen coordinator or vendor to set up new oxygen patients when home oxygen is indicated, taking messages, reporting to the coordinator, entering orders for supplies, etc. Supply management (inventorying stock and O2 tanks, communicating needs to supervisor, etc.) for overall management of the department. Bronchoscopy, to include EBUS prep and assist Set up, cleaning, calibration, and troubleshooting of all respiratory equipment in the outpatient setting (CPAP/BiPAP). Customer Service: The incumbent meets the needs of all customers by supporting the VA mission and core values. He/she consistently communicates in a professional manner and treats all customers in a courteous, respectful manner. Routinely identifies any customer and patient situation properly and performs the task required to resolve the customer and patient's problem accurately and in a timely manner. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Upon Supervisory Approval Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 0000 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. 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. 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). 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. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA. Grade Determinations: All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements listed above AND meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment below. Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11 candidates must have at least one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level; AND, Candidates must demonstrate all the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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. Assignment: This assignment is the full performance level. RRTs at this 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 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. They manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means. RRTs determine and implement complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, bronchoscopy, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation. They monitor critical systems. They use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services, such as home ventilators and COPD case management. RRTs suggest alternate modes of treatment where indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment. RRTs at this grade level may perform invasive procedures such as arterial line placement. They serve as a preceptor to lower graded staff. They may lead projects developing new policies, procedures or protocols. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G11 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion. It includes walking, reaching, bending, and stretching to set up and take apart equipment, in filing, and in positioning patients. Lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling light to moderately heavy objects including the occasional pushing of patients in wheelchairs is also required (up to 40 pounds).

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 VA St Louis Health Care System 1 Jefferson Barracks Drive St. Louis, MO 63125 US
• Name: Brenda McKee
• Phone: 8088307188
• Email: [email protected]