Lead RRTs assure timely accomplishment of the assigned workload, assess the status, quality and progress of work and make day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities. They provide clinical practice guidance for other respiratory staff and assist with technical work problems not covered by precedents or established policies for non-routine or complex procedures. They assist RRTs in determining treatment options for complex patients, among other duties.
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. To qualify for appointment as an RRT, all applicants must possess the following: a. Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3,section A, paragraph 3g, of this part. See 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a) for more information. b. Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor. c. 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. d. 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. e. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. 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). Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher- grade levels. (4) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (6) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA. Grade Determinations: Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-12. Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have: i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management and Hold an active license and RRT credential. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. Ability to assign personnel and tasks to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of the workload. Ability to oversee and direct clinical guidance in a manner that assures completion of the workload. Ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds to solve problems and provide conflict resolution. Ability to recommend uncommon or atypical interventions. Ability to recommend ways to improve patient care and operations through independent research and evaluation of new equipment and therapies RRTs at this grade level in this assignment have experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment across many areas of respiratory care both inpatient and outpatient. Preferred Experience: Individuals should have at least 2 + years experience as a registered respiratory therapist with leadership experience preferred. Management, organizational skills, supervising, and multi tasking skills beneficial for this position. Hold an active license and RRT credential. The following certifications are desirable but not required: a. CPFT, b. RPFT or c. RPSGT 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. Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. This is mostly and administrative position. Little to no lifting. Must be able to tolerate desk-work.
Duties include but are not inclusive of: a. Incumbent will have a great deal of independence in the performance of their duties. They will be the charge person in the absence of the Chief or Assistant Chief and will have full responsibility to modify the workload to accomplish the assigned 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 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. f. Incumbent will provide effective and relevant education to the patient, family, students, and facility staff when appropriate. g. Incumbent will perform both fundamental and advanced diagnostic procedures. h. Incumbent will perform both emergency and acute Respiratory Care procedures in accordance with departmental guidelines and industry standards. i. 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. j. Incumbent will maintain clinical and professional competency based upon established standards of practice. k. Incumbent assembles, checks, and corrects malfunctions and performs quality controls on respiratory care equipment. l. Incumbent will participate in in-service education pertaining to respiratory therapy, maintaining a close relationship with other disciplines and students who may rotate through the health care facility. m. Incumbent will assign individual assignments based on patient acuity and staffing levels. Lead will be available to cover areas when needed and as indicated. n. Incumbent may be assigned a workload, however at a lesser amount than other assigned staff. o. Incumbent will be responsible to perform chart audits, monthly documentation submission and perform In-service education as necessary. p. Incumbent will have the capability to assign duties and responsibilities to staff. They will provide coverage in those areas that require continuous respiratory presence (SICU, MICU, etc.) when the assigned staff are on breaks or lunch or must leave for any reason. q. Incumbent will help monitor supplies within the department and orders supplies as needed. They will utilize VA systems to request repair and replacement of equipment through Information technology and Biomedical departments to ensure proper and timely replacement of supplies and/or repair of broken equipment and devices. The Lead, Registered Respiratory Therapist is under the technical and administrative supervision of the Chief, Respiratory Care Services, the Medical Direction of the Chief of the Pulmonary/Critical Care and the administrative supervision of the Chief, Specialty Care Services. They review completed work for results achieved and for conformance to department policies and requirements. At this level the supervisor places considerable reliance on the Lead, Registered Respiratory Therapists knowledge of complex procedures, and completed work is evaluated for technical soundness, appropriateness and conformity to policy. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0730-1630 Functional Statement #:7104-F