Registered Respiratory Therapist Job in Wilmington, DE

Summary

This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

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

Duties

The services performed by RRTs at the Wilmington VAMC include, but are not limited to, the following activities performed in accordance with valid orders or under established protocols in both the inpatient and outpatient settings:

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

GS-5 (Entry Level): Respiratory Therapists at this grade level perform:

• Basic therapeutic modalities in all areas of respiratory care environment under close clinical supervision by an RRT at the full performance level or higher.
• Medication delivery related to respiratory care
• Initiating and monitoring oxygen therapy
• Assisting with cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Suctioning of artificial airway
• Evaluating and performing aerosol humidification therapy
• Participating in care team rounds.

• 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.
• Perform duties in the critical area with close supervision to include in- line suctioning, re­positioning and securing Endo Tracheal tube, bag valve mask ventilation, assisting in patient transport and performing patient ventilator assessment.
• Provide outpatient services, such as positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care.

• 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.

• Equipment selection and setup to appropriately provide care ordered by physician or protocol.
• Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures with the use of medical gases and administration devices, humidification and aerosols.
• Administration of medication to the cardiopulmonary system.
• Transport of patients to and from areas for special procedures on oxygen, BiPAP, or transport ventilators.
• Verification of all orders before implementation.
• Discontinuation or exchange of all equipment, and reprocessing of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) in accordance with VHA Directives and facility and department policies.
• Maintenance of natural and artificial airways as necessary, including endotracheal suctioning, oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal suctioning, sputum induction, tracheal lavage, and securing of nasal or oral endotracheal tubes or tracheostomies.
• Ventilatory support, including initiation, maintenance, and management of life support systems, and the patient/ventilator interface.
• Bedside training of physicians-in-training and medical residents through patient contacts, discussions, consultations.
• Monitoring patient status as appropriate via arterial blood gases, chest auscultation, review of x-ray studies, clinical observation.
• Various other duties as assigned. The RRT practices professionally; must be reliable, able to work independently, and be self-motivated. The RRT is responsible for performing job duties in accordance with mission, vision, and values of Lebanon VAMC.

• • Six 12-hour shifts and one 8-hour shift per pay period
  • Tour of duty can be a combination of 0700-1900, 1500-2300, 1900-0700, 2300-0700

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 trial 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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 07/18/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12758464.

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.