This position is located in the Critical Care Therapy and Respiratory Care Section of the Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center. This section is currently seeking a few exceptionally talented Registered Respiratory Therapists to add to their team. Ensure to describe your experience in your resume.

Duties

Interpreting physician orders, providing specialized therapy to critically ill patients that usually require adaptation of established technical procedures. Participating with the physician in planning, instituting, evaluating and devising a patient care plan for pulmonary hygiene. Assisting the physician in determining therapeutic objectives/goals of respiratory treatments/therapy and evaluating the physician order for appropriateness and adjusts the order if necessary. Administering various specialized modes of ventilation to patients with endotracheal tubes and tracheotomies and other complex medical problems requiring frequent adjustments in ventilator parameters based on patient response. Observing the patient closely during treatments/procedures, and, as required, takes blood pressure, pulse, obtains blood gas samples reporting vital signs and obvious changes in patient condition. Processing specimens using equipment, instruments, or techniques that are necessary to prepare them for specific analysis (pH, hematocrit, oxygen saturations, etc.). Assisting in the examination and observation of patients by performing such duties as taking diagnostic histories, conducting physical examinations, and performing diagnostic screening tests, i.e., ventilatory mechanics and obtaining blood gases.

Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
• Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
• Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• The work requires standing and walking for prolonged periods of time.
• The therapist must frequently bend, reach, stoop and stretch to set up and take apart equipment, position patients, and push/pull moderately heavy objects.
• Work requires dexterity to perform intricate procedures in confined areas.
• Therapist regularly works in an intensive care unit with patients who have severe respiratory and other medical problems.
• Frequent use of protective clothing is required to prevent disease, spread of infection and penetration of radiation from use of x-ray devices at the bedside during procedures on patients.
• Selectee may be subject to a medical surveillance program due to the potential exposure to hazardous environments or substances.
• A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection.
• Therapist regularly work in an intensive care unit with patients who have severe respiratory and other medical problems. There is recurring exposure to contagious diseases and hazardous gases.
• This position has on-call or call-back requirements.
• This position requires weekend hours, night shifts, regular or rotational shifts, holiday hours.
• This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-08 level, if you meet one of the following basic qualification requirements: One year of general experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability to independently perform the following types of tasks: administering complex respiratory therapy treatment/procedures (e.g. performing arterial puncture, venipuncture, nasotracheal or orotracheal suctioning, and delivering Nitric Oxide and Heliox therapy; performing respiratory therapy ventilation procedures, including endotracheal intubation, tracheal lavage, and tracheotomy care; assessing the respiratory status of patients using data acquired through physical observation and clinical analysis of blood gas data, chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered; and making recommendations to physicians regarding changes in treatment. OR You must have successfully completed two years of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position. OR A combination of post baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay. Selective Factor(s): In order to meet minimum qualification requirements you must demonstrate possession of the selective factor(s) of this position. Selective factor(s) include(s): You must possess the required certificate as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RPT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and a registry number, or a certificate from another body which the NBRC recognizes as its credentialing equivalent. Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12194237

Education

If you qualify based on education in lieu of specialized experience, you are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application packages. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Contacts

• Address National Institutes of Health 6701 Rockledge Dr Bethesda, MD 20892 US
• Name: NIH HR Service Desk Branch E
• Email: [email protected]