This position is located at the Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility. The RRT Administers various Respiratory Therapy procedures, assesses the respiratory status of patients utilizing physical observation and clinical analysis to determine the therapy effectiveness and make recommendations to providers against treatment changes.

Duties

The incumbent serves as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) for inpatient and Outpatient services. The RRT Administers various Respiratory Therapy procedures, assesses the respiratory status of patients utilizing physical observation and clinical analysis to determine the therapy effectiveness and make recommendations to providers against treatment changes. The incumbent will be competent to perform within the areas of the section to meet patient care needed. Major Duties: Performs pulmonary function tests including spirometry, flow rates, volume measurements, DLCO, and RV. Performs all calibration, calculations and patient instructions necessary to insure accurate test results Performs arterial punctures to obtain arterial blood gas samples Performs sputum inductions, having patients breathe nebulized particles. The technician will also, if necessary, perform nasal tracheal suctioning to obtain culture using aseptic technique Performs complex respiratory procedures independently and is able to participate with physicians and nurses and other staff in planning respiratory treatment Performs and verifies all preventive maintenance and internal quality control of all equipment used to insure and maintain maximum proficiency with proper documentation, plotting, and corrective actions as necessary Conducts and develops educational in-services in Respiratory Therapy procedures for nursing staff, staff therapists, etc. Provides appropriate equipment for patients receiving respiratory therapy with necessary changes to maintain infection control as outlined in department policy and procedure manual. Performs electrocardiograms and transmits results through MUSE Helps in education and training of new staff. Teaching consists of but is not limited to BCMA, CPRS, ventilator set up- checks, Bi PAP, ABGs, EKGs, and daily routine of therapy work Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: The tour of duty for this position is typically days 2:00pm- 10:00 pm; with alternating weekends and holidays once orientation is completed. Telework: N/A Virtual: This is not a virtual position. 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: 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 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 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. Exception. Respiratory Therapists, who are certified and working towards obtaining their "registration" credential, 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. 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. 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. RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT. Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Credential: In all cases, RTs must actively pursue meeting national prerequisites for the RRT credential from the first day of their appointment. Failure to become credentialed within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the RT series and may result in termination of employment. Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials: An Employee in this Occupation, who fails to maintain the required RRT Credential or license must be removed from the Occupation, which may also result in termination of employment. Once credentialed, licensed or certified, RRTs must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care. 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:GS-11: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. Hold an active license and RRT credential. COPY OF CERTIFICATE/LICENSE MUST BE SUBMITTED AT TIME OF APPLICATION. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all 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. dated March 12, 2021.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.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-5 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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 Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 325 East H Street Iron Mountain, MI 49801 US
• Name: Kevin Estrada
• Phone: 319-338-0581 X636728
• Email: [email protected]