The Respiratory Therapist is an integral part of the health care team and located in the Specialty Care Service at the West Roxbury, MA campus. This position is intermittent, twelve hour shifts with rotating days and nights, weekends and holidays.
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: 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 qualified based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision: A Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) 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 the qualification standard 06/12/2021 are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who did not meet all the basic requirements in this standard may not be promoted beyond the full performance level (GS-0601-11) or be newly placed in supervisory or managerial positions until meeting the full qualification requirements. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 3 above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment as follows: GS 05 Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Education and Licensure. This level assignment is designated as temporary under paragraph 4d(1) above for individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, licensed by their state and are working towards obtaining RRT credential. GS 07 Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Experience, Education, Licensure and Registration. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess their RRT credential. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care. Skill in analyzing physiological specimens obtained to include arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, End tidal Co2 (ETCo2) monitoring, basic spirometry and other basic diagnostic procedures. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform basic airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation. GS 09: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Experience or Education, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level; Clinical competencies include but are not limited to: Complete patient assessment through direct contact, chart review and other means as appropriate and share the information with health care team members; use accepted measuring/monitoring tools for determining plan of care; place nasal and oropharyngeal airway and perform nasal and tracheal suctioning; obtain, analyze and report arterial and venous blood gas samples; provide outpatient services, such as positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care; OR A Master of Science degree in respiratory care AND a license AND an RRT credential. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation. GS 11 Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) 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. Clinical competencies include but are not limited to: Obtain, interpret and analyze physiological specimens and data; 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 through the use of appropriate mechanical means; assess and evaluate patients to determine and recommend intervention to develop and implement a plan of care, such as, implementing protocols, intubation, monitoring critical systems and uses advanced modes of ventilation; provide outpatient services such as home ventilators, PAP therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care; AND 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 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. Preferred Experience: One year of critical care experience; Registered Respiratory Therapist. References: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds); Light lifting (under 15 pounds); Moderate carrying (15-44 pounds); Light carrying (under 15 pounds); Pushing (some hours); Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 4 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Kneeling (some hours); Repeated bending (some hours); Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Both eyes required; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); No skin allergies. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5 to GS-11.
The incumbent serves as a member of the Respiratory Therapy Section at the VISN 1 VA Healthcare System. The Respiratory Therapy subsection is responsible for providing the full range of clinical procedures related to respiratory care. The incumbent demonstrates the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the following duties within the scope of Respiratory Care. Essential functions may change from time to time to reflect the current trends within the field of respiratory therapy, and to meet the cardio-pulmonary needs of the patients served. Duties for the position include but are not limited to: Responsible for Mechanical Ventilation Management, CPAP/BiPAP Ventilation, Administration of Aerosolized Medication, Bronchial Hygiene, Airway Management, Oxygen Therapy, Aerosol Therapy. Responsible for Diagnostic Testing such as bedside Spirometry, EKGs, Pulse Oximetry. Assist Pulmonologist in Therapeutic Bronchoscopy procedures, Arterial Blood Gas sampling, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Responsible for performing Home Oxygen Evaluations, Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT), Bronchial Provocation Testing (Methacholine Challenge), Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing, Home CPAP/BiP APNP AP set-ups with Compliance Checks, Mask Fitting and Dispensing, Patient Education, and basic maintenance. Assess patients by history, pulmonary physical assessment, and chart review before the start of therapy. Changes in these findings during therapy and results of therapy will be recorded. Utilize knowledge regarding the use of medications in respiratory therapy and will observe the patient for desired and adverse effects of those medications, as well as the effects of the type of therapy delivering the medications. Set up and monitors respiratory equipment such as invasive and noninvasive ventilators, end tidal CO2 monitors, oxygen delivery devices, and oximetry monitors. Performs routine respiratory therapy treatment to hospital inpatients such as administering oxygen and therapeutic aerosols, incentive spirometry, and chest physical therapy. Sputum specimens will be obtained by induction as ordered. Patient education will be done in all aspects of respiratory care pertaining to the individual patient and according to the patient's or his/her family's ability to assimilate the information. Work Schedule: Intermittent, rotating days, nights, weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Available Compressed Work Schedule: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Registered Respiratory Therapist-Specialty Care/PDF02865, PDF02864, PDF02863, and PDF02862 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Notifications: This position is not a Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. This position is in the Excepted Service. The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action). Not more than one year old, 52 weeks). 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) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.