The RRT is a respiratory care practitioner who is employed under medical direction in the treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities, of the cardio/pulmonary system. The RRT functions as members of the medical team in treating and assessing the needs of individuals who may be seriously ill and provide around the clock care to individuals who otherwise would not be able to survive life-threatening conditions.

Duties

RRTs at this grade level will be responsible for the following assignments with minimal clinical supervision from an RRT at the full performance level in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings. Completes patient assessment through direct contact, chart review and other means as appropriate and share the information with health care team members. Uses accepted measuring/monitoring tools for determining plan of care. Performs duties in the critical area with close supervision to include in- line suctioning, re-positioning and securing endotracheal tube, bag valve mask ventilation, assisting in patient transport and performing patient ventilator assessment. Provides outpatient services, such as positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care. Fully demonstrates competencies in initiating, monitoring, and documenting all modes of mechanical ventilation including NIPPV. Provides airway care for all patients throughout the medical center including assisting with emergency intubation, nasal and endotracheal tube suctioning, and securing endotracheal tubes. Maintains competencies in out of operating room airway management and follows most current out of operating room airway management facility memorandum. Immediately responds to meet the need of patients requiring cardiopulmonary resucitation. Maintains basic life support credentials. Completes barcode medication adminstration in accordance with department policies and procedures. Routinely measures plateau pressure, cuff pressures, response to therapies, pulmonary mechanics, auto-PEEP, weaning parameters, RSBI, peak expiratory flow rate, and pulse oximetry, on mechanically ventilated patients. Actively collaborates with physicians, nurses, and other staff, to develop plans of care. Is knowledgeable of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment as appropriate. Interprets request from physician for appropriateness of requested procedure. Is knowledgeable of electronic medical record (EMR) and can use the record to access pertinent patient information as needed. Consult discrepancies are noted and acted upon as they are received. Corrective action is taken as per policies and procedures. Operates and maintains diagnostic medical equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures related to respiratory therapy. Recommends modifications to correct abnormal results, if applicable. Uses supplies and equipment according to manufacturer's specifications, and as per departmental policies and procedures. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Variable, 10 hour tours. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21N34-A 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. Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. 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). 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 in paragraph above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs below: Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-07 Do you have the following experience, education, licensure and registration? In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess their RRT credential. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care. Skill in analyzing physiological specimens obtained to include arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, End tidal Co2 (ETCo2) monitoring, basic spirometry and other basic diagnostic procedures. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform basic airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation. Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-09 Do you have the following experience or education, licensure and credential? Candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level; OR A Master of Science degree in respiratory care AND a license AND an RRT credential. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation. Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11 Do you have the following experience, licensure and credential? Candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. and Hold an active license and RRT credential. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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. 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 in the range of GS-07 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Work will fluctuate from sedentary to moderate physical requirements. Physical demands will include but are not limited to: bending at the waste, reaching above the head, lifting from the knees

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 Western New York Healthcare System 3495 Bailey Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 US
• Name: Sarah Cassidy
• Email: [email protected]