The incumbent of this position is responsible for the provision of services for respiratory therapy, pulmonary diagnostics, home respiratory care program, Blood Gas Laboratory, Pulmonary Rehab, Asthma/COPD Education, Home Oxygen, inpatient respiratory care, providing administrative and technical supervision to the employees throughout the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System (SLVHCS) Medical Center and the Baton Rouge Community Based Outpatient Care.

Duties

The Incumbent Registered Respiratory Therapist is responsible for managing all administrative and clinical aspects of the organizational unit. This includes In-Patient and Out-Patient Respiratory Care Services and clinics The Incumbent is responsible for all aspects of the department's goals. This includes planning, organizing, staffing, decision making, coordinating, reporting, and budgeting for all areas supervised. Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgement. The duties of this position are but not limited to the following:.

Requirements

• • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• • Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• • Subject to background/security investigation.
• • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• • Must pass pre-employment evaluation. (VA 10-324)
• • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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. 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. 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. 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: (1) Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. (2) 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. (3) 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. (4) 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. (5) 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. (6) 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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment as follows: (a) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must: i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more functional specialties such as critical care, pulmonary, education and sleep medicine. ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. (b) Education. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess a Bachelor of Science degree from a nationally accredited college or university in respiratory care; cardiopulmonary science; or a health-related field. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: i. Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data. ii. Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care iii. Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies. iv. Ability to supervise employees. v. Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters. References: VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11 The full performance level of this vacancy is 14. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in patient care areas, in-patient and outpatient. Extensive interaction with patients, staff, physicians, family members and visitors involved. Moving equipment and supplies, lifting to 40 pounds, bending, stooping and possible exposure to body fluids is involved. This position has been evaluated as a Level 1 in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) definition of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens. Level 1 Positions in this category require the performance of tasks that are exposed to blood and potentially infectious body fluid.

Education

Note: 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.

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 New Orleans VA Medical Center 2400 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70119 US
• Name: Ambera Oyoo
• Phone: 317-435-2270
• Email: [email protected]