The VA Central Iowa Health Care System is recruiting for 2 full-time Registered Respiratory Therapists (Pulmonary) for the Specialty Care Service Line.

Duties

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. The Incumbent Registered Respiratory Therapist is responsible for providing basic and advanced Respiratory services to adult and geriatric patients at VA Central Iowa HCS, however the therapist must be knowledgeable regarding the basic treatment of all age groups. The Therapist plans, implements and evaluates the effectiveness of respiratory care procedures. Additional responsibilities and functions performed by the Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)/Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT) or Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) in the VA Central Iowa HCS encompass diagnostic evaluation, assessment, and provision of patient care services to both inpatients and outpatients. This includes patient instruction, testing, equipment/computer setup and interface, troubleshooting, and preliminary interpretation. Services are rendered in collaboration with the ordering provider, either by specific orders, consult, policy, or established protocol. Duties will include both Outpatient, Pulmonary Function Testing, and Inpatient cares. These functions and responsibilities are supported by education and administrative oversight. Periodically specific functions may change. The primary services include, but are not limited to: a) Incumbent will have a great deal of independence in the performance of their duties. b) Incumbent will collect, review, and evaluate relevant clinical data from the medical records, care team, patient, and patient's family to ensure appropriate care when indicated. c) Incumbent will be capable of performing both basic and complex therapeutic procedures for adults and geriatric patients. Example: monitoring patients receiving mechanical ventilation, assisting with bronchoscopy, using techniques that include interpretation of clinical data, describing and interpreting arterial blood gas values and acid base balance. d) Incumbent will apply clinical expertise in such a manner as to upgrade patient care where indicated and assist the provider in formulating an appropriate respiratory care plan based upon patient assessment, history, lung auscultation, chest x-ray, pulse oximetry, etc. e) Incumbent will maintain Non-Operating Room Airway Management (NORAM) privileges. f) Incumbent will communicate changes in the respiratory care plan and/or patient status to other health care team members as appropriate. Additionally, the incumbent will make recommendations to providers regarding changes in treatment based upon patient observation and diagnostic test values. g) Incumbent will provide effective and relevant education to the patient, family, students, and facility staff when appropriate. h) Incumbent will perform both fundamental and advanced diagnostic procedures. i)Incumbent will perform both emergency and acute Respiratory Care procedures in accordance with departmental guidelines and industry standards. j) Incumbent will actively participate in departmental quality assurance and hospital organizational performance improvement. The Therapist will comply with all medical center policies and procedures regarding safety practices. The Therapist will demonstrate working knowledge of the appropriate safety protocols. k) Incumbent will maintain clinical and professional competency based upon established standards of practice. l) Incumbent will provide care in face-to-face settings, telephone settings and via telehealth modalities. m) Incumbent assembles, checks, and corrects malfunctions and performs quality controls on respiratory care equipment. Work Schedule: Varied tours available. Day or night shift hours. Pulmonary Function Technologist (PFT) duties will be performed 50% of the time and inpatient duties will be performed the other 50% of the time. The PFT duties will be scheduled between Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The inpatient duties will be scheduled either days, or nights on condensed tours. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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). 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-12 Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have: a. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level, which is defined as: collaboratively consulting with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes; Evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities; Performing advanced airway and ventilation management. b. Hold an active license and RRT credential. Certification. Incumbent must hold a CPFT or RPFT. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: a. Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing to include but not limited to cardiopulmonary stress testing, exercise testing, metabolic testing, bronchoprovocation testing and shunt testing. b. Ability to establish a quality control program related to pulmonary function lab. c. Skill in analyzing physiologic specimen and information from basic diagnostic procedures. d. Skill in assessing for signs and symptoms of adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. e. Skill in determining appropriate intervention for adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. f. Ability to provide training in advanced pulmonary function procedures. g. Ability to provide clinical consultation in advanced pulmonary function procedures. All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package. Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. RRTs at this grade level in this position compare and evaluate indications and contraindications for complex pulmonary function testing (PFT) and recognizes normal/abnormal results. They perform bronchoprovocation testing utilizing a variety of medications or methodologies. They monitor patients and recognize and initiate interventions for complications of testing. They perform an initial quality review of test results and ready them for physician interpretation and determine whether the patient meets the criteria for termination of testing. RRTs conduct quality control reviews of all tests performed and all pulmonary diagnostic equipment. They maintain lab records. They train and assess staff competencies in performing simple spirometry. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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 VA Central Iowa Health Care System 3600 30th St Des Moines, IA 50310 US
• Name: Kelsey Albanese
• Phone: (515) 699-5999 X22023
• Email: [email protected]