The Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System (NAVAHCS) is seeking two (2) full-time Registered Respiratory Therapist (Flex). The incumbents are responsible for administering various respiratory therapy procedures, assessing the respiratory status of patients utilizing physical observation and clinical analysis, and determining therapy effectiveness of prescribed treatment plans within the Respiratory Department at the Bob Stump VA Medical Center located in Prescott, Arizona.

Duties

Below is a list of some major duties. These include, but are not limited to: Document all respiratory treatments and patient responses in the medical record. This includes documentation in the electronic (BCMA, CPRS and PICIS) medical record. Ensure all critical blood gas values are documented under the comment section in Vista/CPRS and contacts the physicians or the appropriate individual. Ensure that all patient consults /encounters received are accurate and completed daily and closed out in computer system. Perform basic and acute respiratory care, administration of oxygen and aerosol therapy, positive pressure devices (BIPAP and CPAP), ventilator care to include advanced technology/techniques, i.e., pressure control modality and associated ventilator adjustments, and monitoring with/without/graphs. Respiratory Therapist is responsible in making appropriate recommendations to physicians regarding changes in therapy. Assess respiratory status of patients using data acquired through physical observation and clinical analysis of blood gas data, chest x-rays, and electrocardiograms to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered. Assist with code calls i.e., participates in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Respond to code arrests, starting new therapies, cleaning and/or stocking of supplies and disinfecting/preparation of equipment. Transporting and monitoring of the patient in specialty areas, i.e., CT scan, X-ray, bronchoscopy, etc., Develop plans for weaning patients from mechanical ventilation, monitoring of patients using oximetry, CPAP Therapy, and apnea monitoring devices. Assist or perform endotracheal intubation, tracheal lavage, and tracheotomy care. Perform Emergency Airway Management Outside of the Operating Room when required. Perform arterial blood gases and electrocardiograms Assist with sputum mobilization techniques-sputum inductions, chest percussion, postural drainage, and suctioning patients as required. Administer these procedures and be competent in therapeutic interventions and troubleshooting in all related therapies and equipment as demonstrated by observation, documentation, or audit. Dispenses pharmacological solutions as prescribed by physician. Assist/Conduct Patient/family education NOTE: Some positions require rotation of tours or indefinite work on non-administrative tours as established by the immediate supervisor. Not all duties may be listed, so other duties may be assigned. Salary listed does not include weekend, holiday and night pay shift differential. Shift Differential for employees who perform work during regularly scheduled hours between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. shall receive 10 percent of basic pay for those hours. Premium pay equal to 25 percent of the employee's basic hourly rate of pay is given for hours worked between midnight Friday or midnight Sunday. Employees who are required to perform regularly scheduled non-overtime work on a designated holiday shall receive pay at the rate of two times their hourly rate for actual hours worked on their tour, but not less than at least two hours. See VA Handbook 5007 for further details. Work Schedule: Flexibility in working schedules may be required as shifts vary due to hospital servicing hours are 24 hours per day/7 days a week; changes to shifts are based on servicing needs. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 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. Please select the response below, that represents how you meet the education requirement. 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). GS-11 Registered Respiratory Therapist: Experience or Education, 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 In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/141, Part II, Appendix G11 dated March 12, 2021. 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: Pre-placement and periodic physical evaluations are required for hybrid occupations to ensure workers are placed in positions where they can perform the essential functions of their job including their physical, mental and emotional capacities, without endangering their health or the health of their co-workers. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Bob Stump VA Medical Center 500 Highway 89 North Prescott, AZ 86313 US
• Name: Niko Simmons
• Phone: (562) 842-9823
• Email: [email protected]