This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties

The incumbent will provide respiratory therapy and related care to VA veterans and DoD beneficiaries. The position requires utilization of both VA and Air Force guidelines, processes, and methods. Additionally, the respiratory therapist will be responsible for respiratory therapy education and respond to referrals from the three community out based clinics aligned under the Alaska VA Healthcare System to include home oxygen responsibilities as needed. The RRT practices professionally, must be reliable, able to work independently, be pro-active and self-motivated. The incumbent is responsible for performing job duties in accordance with mission, vision, and values of Alaska VA Health Care System. Some of the roles, responsibilities, and duties include: Work within ventilator protocol guidelines. Administer assisted and controlled mechanical ventilation to patients with artificial airways, endotracheal tubes, tracheotomies, and full-face mask assisted ventilation requiring frequent adjustments in ventilator parameters. Administer and monitor advanced ventilator techniques; Volume ventilation, Pressure ventilation, Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) mode, positive end expiratory pressure and continuous positive airway pressure. Develop plans for weaning patients from ventilators and perform daily spontaneous breathing trials to assess readiness to wean prior to the day shift. Perform the most difficult respiratory therapy procedures to maintain ventilation, assist endotracheal intubation, tracheal lavage, and tracheotomy care. Manual and mechanical ventilatory life support, medical gas administration, aerosol delivery of bronchodilators and other agents in the resuscitation of respiratory and cardiovascular failure. Assess the respiratory status of critical care patients using data acquired through physical observation/examination, verbal and written communication from patients, family, other healthcare team members, clinical analysis of blood gas data, and chest x-rays to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered. Administer/implement therapeutic measures as ordered by providers and per protocols. Identify and respond to both existing and potential emergency situations such as Rapid Response/nursing alerts, and Code Blue situations by initiating corrective treatment, respiratory medications, and emergency and resuscitative measures based on appropriate utilization of physician orders, unit and hospital guidelines, BLS, and ACLS protocol. Communicate significant information in a timely, knowledgeable, and professional manner to providers, other healthcare personnel, patients, and family members to facilitate safe and effective delivery of patient care. Identify patient/family education needs and provision of patient/family instruction on matters involving or affecting patient care. Engage in unit/hospital programs and actively participate in efforts regarding safety, quality improvement, risk management, infection control, policy and procedure revisions, staff meetings, in-services, RT annual competencies, Home oxygen program assistance, and other functions as they arise. Contribute to the ongoing responsibility of a supportive and positive work climate of mutual respect and collaboration among health care team members, patients, families, and others interacting with our critical care unit. Manage and maintain training, cleaning/processing, calibration, setup between patients, documentation, infection control, quality improvement, and accountability. Thoroughly document all treatments, assessments, education, changes in therapies, ventilator changes, emergency care, transports or any other significant findings that may pertain to the patient's care. Communicate accurate information to providers and discharge planners about the patient's needs at home and while hospitalized. Work Schedule: Night shift, days of week vary, 6:30pm - 7:00am (will include weekends and holidays) Compressed Tour: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact [email protected],, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. Exception. RT positions 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. Candidates must hold an active, current, full and unrestricted RRT credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07 level. 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 GS-0601 RT series and may result in termination of employment. The Human Resources (HR) Office staff will provide RTs, in writing, the requirement to 1) obtain their RRT credential; 2) the date by which the RRT credential must be acquired; and 3) the consequences for not becoming RRT credentialed by the deadline. The HR 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. 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). GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11. Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have: i. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: i. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes. ii. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities. iii. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management. Assignments. 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. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: 1 year experience and the ability to work independently REFERENCES: VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11 II-G11-1 Appendix G11. REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, GS-0601 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Heavy lifting and carrying (over 45 pounds), straight pulling, pulling hand over hand, and pushing (up to 2 hours each). Reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (12 hours), standing (12 hours), repeated bending (12 hours), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, ability to see a computer, monitors, and ventilator screens, ability to distinguish basic colors, and hearing (aid permitted). Environmental factors include excessive cold, dry atmospheric conditions, silica/asbestos/etc., slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working closely with others, working alone, protracted or irregular hours of work, exposure to bodily fluids, and exposure to infectious diseases.

Education

Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) Authorized: This position is eligible for EDRP, a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of your start date. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Contact [email protected] for questions/assistance.

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 Anchorage VA Medical Center 1201 North Muldoon Road Anchorage, AK 99504 US
• Name: Randi Tran
• Phone: 509-434-7000 X6680
• Email: [email protected]