The Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist is responsible for the assessment of the patient and performance of diagnostic studies as well as the delivery of direct patient-centered care during his/her tour of duty. The responsibilities include the demonstration of competent and professional clinical practice and delivery of care through established standards of care to patients in inpatient and outpatient settings.

Duties

Manages complexity level 1 and 2 respiratory care department. Manages all administrative and clinical aspects of the organizational unit. Has broad and overall responsibility for the service-level department and full responsibility for clinical practice, program management, education, human resources management, budget management and supervision for employees whose work involves providing high acuity care. Provides leadership with objective, independent assessments and recommendations for policy, operational and administrative issues and initiatives requiring decision and action. Plans, assesses and evaluates programs to ensure coordination between care delivered by the program and overall delivery of health care within the facility. Initiates and conducts audits and analyze a wide variety of data related to program planning and the specialized needs of the Veteran, the service and the medical center. Advises leadership on policy implications, key issues, relationships to both internal and external interest groups and recommend courses of action. Maintains interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. Coordinates and negotiates resolutions to complex problems and report progress and resolution of problems in achieving goals and objectives to higher levels of management. Prepares special reports and responses, Congressional responses, briefing papers, issue briefs and decision papers for the medical center leadership, VISN or central office, which may be highly sensitive, confidential and of a complex nature. Develops policies, procedures and protocols, performance and quality standards, position descriptions and functional statements. Represents the department at interdisciplinary meetings and on facility level committees. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required ****All required documentation must be uploaded before the announcement closes, to support eligibility.**** Failure to submit documentation will constitute the application being categorized as incomplete and therefore ineligible for referral.

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 Commission of Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor. Licensure: Persons appointed or reassigned to the Registered Respiratory Therapist (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 a RRT. Credential: Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the 0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current and unrestricted credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). Exception: Respiratory Therapist (RT) positions will be designated only to individuals who are in the process of obtaining credentials to become a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). These individuals will only be hired on a temporary appointment as provided below. VHA may waive the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified and pending completion of prerequisites for Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. Individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission of Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor, acquired the Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) credential, are fully licensed by their state and are working toward completion of their Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential may be given a temporary appointment as a Respiratory Therapist (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. Candidates must hold an active, current, full and unrestricted Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07 level. Respiratory Therapists (RTs) may only be temporarily appointed at the GS-05 level and may not be promoted/converted to a higher-level position as an Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) until the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential is received. Respiratory Therapists (RTs) must provide care only under the close supervision of an Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT). II-G11-4 VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11 Temporary Respiratory Therapist (RT) appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Credential: In all cases, Respiratory Therapists (RTs) must actively pursue meeting national prerequisites for the Registered Respiratory Therapist (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 GS-0601 Registered Therapist (RT) series and may result in termination of employment. The Human Resources (HR) Office staff will provide Respiratory Therapists (RTs), in writing, the requirement to Obtain their Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. The date by which the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential must be acquired. The consequences for not becoming Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credentialed by the deadline. The Human Resources Office staff must provide the written notice to selectees prior to entrance on duty date and maintain a copy in the electronic Official Personnel Folder. Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials: An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment. Once credentialed, licensed, or certified, Respiratory Therapists/ Registered Respiratory Therapists (RTs/RRTs) must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care. Physical Standards: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. English Language Proficiency: Respiratory Therapists/ Registered Respiratory Therapists (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). Grade Determinations: GS 14: Experience, Licensure and Credential: Applicant must 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. Applicant must also hold an active license and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data. Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care. Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies. Ability to supervise employees. Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters. Ability to communicate orally and in writing at varying levels both internal and external to the organization. References: VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-14. ****All required documentation must be uploaded before the announcement closes, to support eligibility.**** Failure to submit documentation will constitute the application being categorized as incomplete and therefore ineligible for referral.

Education

IMPORTANT: A legible 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

****All required documentation must be uploaded before the announcement closes, to support eligibility.****

Failure to submit documentation will constitute the application being categorized as incomplete and therefore ineligible for referral.

Contacts

• Address Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center 1111 East End Boulevard Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711 US
• Name: Katrina Paul
• Phone: (412) 822-3584
• Email: [email protected]