Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred to 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 Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor Transcripts are required to be submitted with application.
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.
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).
Grade Determinations:
GS-11 level Experience, Licensure, and Credential require that candidates must have:
One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. Applicants experience must meet the following and list details on their resume, this includes:
RRTs at this grade level are responsible for the following under general guidance in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings.
RRTs obtain, interpret and analyze physiological specimens and data. They consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty.
They manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient through the use of appropriate mechanical means.
RRTs 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.
They provide outpatient services such as home ventilators, PAP therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care.
AND
Hold an active license AND RRT credential.
In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
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: It is required that therapists be registered by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) or possess a certificate from another body which the NBRC recognizes as its credentialing equivalent.
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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-11.
Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in all patient care areas (in-patient and outpatient). Respiratory Therapists will have extensive interaction with patients, staff, physicians, family members, and visitors. It may involve walking, standing, and bending, reaching and stretching to set-up and taking apart equipment, lifting, and positioning patient and carrying, pushing or pulling moderate heavy objects (15-44lbs). Respiratory Therapists must have or obtain the ability to handle varying levels of stress in a positive manner.