Clarification from the agency

United States Citizens NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

This position directly reports to the RRT Lead PAP Clinic/Sleep Disorders and the Supervisor, Respiratory Therapy & Polysomnography. The incumbent indirectly reports to the Chief, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Allergy.

General Knowledge - Cardiopulmonary Diseases & Sleep Disorders

• Understands etiology, anatomy, pathology, diagnosis and treatment of common cardiopulmonary diseases and sleep-disordered breathing conditions.
• Demonstrates knowledge of testing procedures and common treatments employed in sleep-disordered patient populations, including overnight sleep lab testing, actigraphy, overnight pulse oximetry and Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy.
• Identifies common issues and limitations of testing and treatment related to sleep-disordered breathing patient populations, including insomnia, patients presenting with altered anatomy, morbid obesity, neuromuscular issues, those with claustrophobia, and cognitive barriers to testing or treatment.

Clinical Competence

• Identifies important information to be obtained prior to performing any diagnostic testing procedure and/or any therapeutic intervention.
• Ability to perform patient assessment, including routine vital sign measurements, assessment of respiratory rate and pattern and evidence of dyspnea or hypoxia.
• Identifies indications, contraindications and hazards associated with frequently performed procedures in the PAP Clinic.
• Identifies critical information that must be communicated during appointments.
• Ability to program devices to prescribed parameters, teach and coach patients with the fit, use and care of equipment issued.
• Demonstrates ability to utilize and maintain third-party and VA-used software databases.
• Cleans, maintains and troubleshoots equipment in the area(s) assigned.
• Evaluates and troubleshoots all patient-issued equipment.
• Follows department and Medical Center policies and standard operating procedures.
• Ensures adequate storage and inventory of issuable supplies/equipment/machines.
• Other duties, as requested and within scope of practice and licensure.

Clinical Practice - Emergency Care

• Identifies and takes appropriate action when faced with patient situations that require urgent or emergency management.
• Provides cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as needed.

Communication/Documentation

• Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, families, coworkers and other staff.
• Responds to secure messages, voicemails, Patient Advocate and provider requests in a timely manner.
• Collaborates with patients, families and other members of the healthcare team to facilitate appointments, equipment issuance, machine assistance, and equipment troubleshooting issues.
• Properly and completely documents all assessments, patient response or concerns, results, machine or equipment issuance and any other pertinent information in the patient's medical record.
• Properly and completely documents all pertinent information into other necessary software systems, as related to PAP therapy.
• Ensures consults and orders are accurate and completed in a timely manner.
• Ensures that any issues, concerns or undesirable responses to treatment are clearly documented with notification to appropriate personnel. Enters patient safety reports when indicated.

Education

• Provides patient education related to the use, acclimation techniques, supply reorder process, and cleaning and maintenance of all recommended and issued patient equipment.
• Keeps abreast of current trends in respiratory and sleep-disordered breathing care, and effectively applies that information in practice.
• Completes all mandatory self-paced learning sessions (i.e.: TMS training).
• Attends (or views) all required meetings, in-services and training sessions, in accordance with department guidelines.
• Assists the Lead Outpatient Respiratory Therapy PAP Clinic/Sleep Disorders RRT and the Supervisor, Outpatient Respiratory Therapy & Sleep Technology with training, policy/procedure creation/revision and other performance improvement projects, as requested.

Health & Occupational Safety

• Identifies and demonstrates ability to don proper personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ensures a safe patient environment at all times. This includes but is not limited to keeping patient care areas clean, organized and free from trip hazards, completing disinfection of equipment in-between patients, encouraging the use of walkers or other mobility aids when needed, and making recommendations for urgent care follow up, when indicated.
• Notifies environmental services when in need of additional cleaning or services.
• Enters work orders for items needing Engineering or other assistance, such as cracked or curled floor tiles, discolored ceiling tiles, plumbing or electrical needs, Biomedical assistance, etc.

Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm, Monday - Friday
Functional Statement #: 94281-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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: Candidates must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor.
• Licensure: Candidates must possess and maintain a full, current, and unrestricted license to practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or the District of Columbia.
• Credential: Candidates must possess and maintain a valid, current, unrestricted credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• 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 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).

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 hey 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 in 38 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 Determination, GS-11:

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. This includes but is not limited to: obtains, interprets and analyzes physiological specimens and data. Consults with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty. Manages and maintains the airway and ventilation of the patient through the use of appropriate mechanical means. Assesses and evaluates 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. Provides outpatient services such as home ventilators, PAP therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care.
• 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.

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: Considerable walking/standing may be required. Frequent lifting, positioning, pushing/pulling may be required when moving
equipment or supplies or other infrequent needs. Frequent, prolonged extensive or considerable sitting is often required. Manual dexterity and mobility are required. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above-average dexterity to perform intricate respiratory therapy procedures. Frequent reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, or crouching may be necessary. Moderate physical effort (ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds) may be occasionally required. Intermittent exertion is possible. Subject to interruptions and stress from multiple calls, patient needs and/or
inquiries from others, whether in-person, on the telephone or via computer. Sound judgement and ability to function under stress is required. Inappropriate actions/judgment, especially those during emergency or crisis situations, may result in injury or death.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume (when listing previous employment please include month and year).
• Educational transcripts (must clearly list conferred date and degree awarded)
• If prior military service, include all copies of your DD-214 or proof of service as well as proof of disability, if applicable. You must submit your documentation showing character of discharge.

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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