This Registered Respiratory Therapist position is in the Specialty Care services at the VA Maine Healthcare System located at the Togus ME location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week.

Duties

This Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) position is responsible for providing the full range of clinical procedures related to respiratory care. Duties include, but are not limited to: Work independently providing respiratory care in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings. Use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met. Consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty. Manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means. Determine and implement complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, bronchoscopy, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation. Monitor critical systems. Use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services, such as home ventilators and COPD case management. Suggest alternate modes of treatment where indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment. Serve as a preceptor to lower graded staff. May lead projects developing new policies, procedures or protocols. May perform invasive procedures such as arterial line placement. Work Schedule: Full-Time Schedule TBD Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement# F02865 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position. This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) will be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.

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: Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). English Language Proficiency: RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f) License: All applicants must have an full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credentials: All applicants must possess and maintain a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. Education: Completion of a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor. Registered Respiratory Therapist 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 and hold an active license and RRT credential. This assignment is the full performance level. RRTs at this grade level work independently providing respiratory care in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings. The specific assignments are dependent on facility structure and complexity levels. They use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met. They consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty. They manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means. RRTs determine and implement complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, bronchoscopy, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation. They monitor critical systems. They use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services,such as home ventilators and COPD case management. RRTs suggest alternate modes of treatment where indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment. RRTs at this grade level may perform invasive procedures such as arterial line placement. They serve as a preceptor to lower graded staff. They may lead projects developing new policies, procedures or protocols. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes. 2. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities. 3. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management. Preferred Experience: BLS, ALS, PALS and RRT Certification References: VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11 Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to moderate risks and discomforts that require special safety and health precautions. Work is typically performed in a clinical setting that exposes incumbent to biohazards, hazardous chemicals and hazardous medications common in health care environment. Such exposure will be mitigated in accordance with local policies and operating procedures as per USP800 standards, OSHA guidance and local risk assessment practices. Standard safety precautions and PPE are required and specified per local policies. The employee will apply all established safe practices, will report unsafe conditions and unsafe practices to the supervisor, and will report any occupational injury or illness as promptly as practical.

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

Contacts

• Address Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: Donna Davies
• Phone: (603) 624-4366 X5077
• Email: [email protected]