Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist Job in San Antonio, TX

Summary

This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

  Current federal employees of the hiring agency that posted the job announcement.

Duties

Services are rendered in collaboration with the ordering provider, either by specific orders, policy, or established protocol. 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:
-Make recommendations in the absence of the Chief or Assistant Chief and will have full responsibility to modify the workload to accomplish the assigned duties.
-Responsible for selecting and adapting equipment and techniques to individual patients to comply with the physician's instructions.
-Works independently and is expected to resolve staffing problems using appropriate guidelines for staffing. Additionally, is expected to resolve problems with equipment failure and make substitutions for equipment when necessary.
-Reviews work performed on the units by conducting daily rounds to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures and to ensure technical accuracy and compliance with physician's instructions. May review the overall quality of work through personal observations and assessing input received from physicians, nurses, and others with whom the therapist has contact with.
-Have frequent interaction with patients and their families to explain the operation and use of respiratory equipment including treatment procedures and providing reassurance and comfort.
-Many of the patients are acutely ill and under considerable stress requiring the therapist to be tactful in establishing and maintaining communication. Contacts with physicians, nurses, and other medical personnel are to resolve complications in patient care and problems with equipment, treatment results, and patient workload.
-Monitor Leave and Attendance for assigned team, taking special note of excessive leave and/or tardiness of team members and will report these to supervisor for review.
-Ensure work is distributed among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization.
-Prepare work assignments for oncoming shift.
-Collect, review, and evaluate relevant clinical data from the medical records, care team, patient, and patient's family to ensure appropriate care when indicated, reporting to the supervisor any discrepancies noted.
-Capable of performing both basic and complex therapeutic procedures for adults and geriatric patients. May assist with bronchoscopy and percutaneous tracheotomies.
-Apply clinical expertise in such a manner as to upgrade patient care were 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.
-Communicate changes in the respiratory therapy plan and/or patient status to other health care team members as appropriate.
-Provide effective and relevant education to the patient, family, students, and facility staff when appropriate.
-Perform both fundamental and advanced diagnostic procedures.
-Perform emergency and acute respiratory therapy procedures in accordance with departmental guidelines and industry standards.
-Actively participate in departmental quality assurance and hospital organizational performance improvement. Comply with all medical center policies and procedures regarding safety practices and will demonstrate adequate working knowledge of the appropriate safety protocols.
-Maintain clinical and professional competencies based upon established standards of practice.
-Assembles, checks, and corrects malfunctions and performs quality controls on all respiratory care equipment.
-Participate with the in-service education pertaining to respiratory therapy; maintaining a close relationship with other disciplines and students who may rotate through the health care facility.
-Responsible to perform chart audits and monthly documentation submission, to include monthly encounters for assigned team. Participate in daily tracking of mechanical ventilator data.
-Attend and represent Respiratory Therapy at meetings, such as, Critical Care Committee, Patient Safety, and other meetings where presence and expertise of Respiratory Therapy is expected, or when supervisor is unable to attend.
-May assist in transport of patients on mechanical ventilation for procedures.
-Help monitor supplies within the department and orders supplies as needed. 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.

Work Schedule: 6:30a.m. to 7:00p.m. may include nights, weekends, and holidays
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 53067-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

How You Will Be Evaluated

Required Documents

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 06/17/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12747067.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.
2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.

You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.

NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.