RRTs at the GS-11 grade level will be responsible for the following assignments with minimal 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. 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. - Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials: An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment. Once credentialed, licensed or certified, RTs/RRTs must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in all patient areas (in-patient or outpatient). All respiratory therapists will have extensive interaction with patients, staff, physicians, family members, and visitors. The respiratory therapist is expected to be able to move, lift, bend, and stoop while performing duties with equipment supplies, and patients. Respiratory therapists must demonstrate the ability to handle stressful, challenging situations in a positive manner. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. ["General Duties - Inpatient - Aerosol therapy - Aspects of mechanical ventilation, modes and weaning - Intra-hospital transporting of critically ill patients being mechanically ventilated or requiring respiratory assistance - Assists with intubation - Extubations - Blood procurement for blood gas analysis via arterial lines, punctures or pulmonary artery catheters - Blood gas analysis/interpretation to make adjustments to mechanical ventilation, PAP therapy and oxygen therapy - General maintenance of blood gas laboratory equipment and troubleshooting equipment issues/problems - Perform CPR (BLS required and ACLS strongly encouraged) and respond to code situations and Early Response Team calls - Airway care and management - Bronchoscopy assistance at the bedside - Postural drainage therapy and percussion - Conducts bedside diagnostic respiratory tests - Participate in multi-disciplinary rounds General Duties - Outpatient - Performs home oxygen therapy evaluations according to departmental procedure and obtains physician's orders for patients who qualify for home oxygen therapy or renewals. Schedules appointments for annual home oxygen evaluation and renewal. - Performs pulmonary testing procedures such as basic spirometry (FVC, MVV, flow volume loops), complete spirometry (SVC, FVC, MVV, FRC, Diffusion Capacity, lung volumes), high altitude testing, and bronchial challenge testing. - Sets up and monitors a variety of complex respiratory therapy equipment such as PAP and nocturnal oximetry equipment. Monitors patients closely to avoid incidents and to alter the plan as necessary. Downloads modems for physicians to review for patient compliance with PAP therapy prescribed for patients. Sets up nocturnal portable sleep monitors with physician's order. - Assists with CPAP setups and clinics. Work Schedule: Requires every other weekend with 6 - 12 hour shifts and 1- 8 hour shift per pay period Compressed/Flexible: Compressed Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.