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

If you are a current, permanent VA employee or Federal employee from another agency, you should apply to CBST-12542733-24-TB. The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) at this grade level is responsible for the following assignments with minimal or no clinical supervision from an RRT at the full performance level in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings. RRTs complete patient assessment through direct contact, chart review and other means as appropriate and share the information with health care team members. They use accepted measuring/monitoring tools for determining plan of care. They place nasal and oropharyngeal airway and perform nasal and tracheal suctioning. RRTs obtain, analyze and report arterial and venous blood gas samples. They perform duties in the critical area with close supervision to include in- line suctioning, re-positioning and securing Endo Tracheal tube, bag valve mask ventilation, assisting in patient transport and performing patient ventilator assessment. Duties include but are not limited to: Provide respiratory care to critically ill and/or poor risk patients in ICU and Step Down units. Administer oxygen, aerosol, humidity, and positive pressure breathing therapy. Position patient and perform chest physiotherapy and drainage, noting the effectiveness of therapy. Implement adult artificial ventilation upon physician's orders. Maintain and monitor ventilator patients as required and make adjustments based on blood gas analysis with the physician's approval. Administer prescribed medications that pertain to the field, note contraindications and/or adverse reactions, and notify the physician and recommend corrective therapy as indicated. Perform arterial blood gas analysis from arterial puncture or arterial line. Analyze blood with the mechanical analyzer, interpret the results of the analysis, consult with the physician on the results, and make recommendations. Perform maintenance, calibrations, repair, and quality control of the blood gas analyzers. Provide emergency respiratory therapy treatments to critically ill patients. Monitor patient reactions to therapy with the use of pulse oximetry. Perform pulmonary function tests including spirometry, lung volumes, and exercise testing. Work overtime as required by the needs of the department. Document in the progress notes and other areas all pertinent information regarding patient response and tolerance to all forms of therapy and test procedures performed. Participate in research projects under the direction of the Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy. Perform other duties, applicable to the Respiratory Care department as requested by a Supervisor of the Respiratory Care department Work Schedule: NIGHTS ONLY; 6:00pm - 6:00am (1st Week: Monday ,Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday) (2d Week: Wednesday and Thursday); subject to change based on the needs of the facility Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 502-00748-F 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

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. Language Proficiency: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Education: Applicant must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the a CoARC or its successor. Licensure: Applicant appointed or reassigned must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credential: Applicant appointed or reassigned must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level). Registered Respiratory Therapist - GS-11: Experience, Licensure, and Credential. Applicants must have: (1) One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. (2) 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: Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professional for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities Skill in preforming advanced airway and ventilation management Preferred Experience: Two years RRT Experience 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-11. Physical Requirements: May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

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 Alexandria VA Medical Center 2495 Shreveport Highway Pineville, LA 71360 US
• Name: Teri Bankhead
• Phone: 2057719942
• Email: [email protected]