Clarification from the agency

Open to current permanent VA employees of the VA Central Iowa Health Care System. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

The Respiratory Therapist is under the technical and administrative supervision of the Respiratory Therapy Supervisor in the Respiratory Care Services, the Medical Direction of the Chief of the Pulmonary Section, and the administrative supervision of the Associate Chief of Staff for Primary & Specialty Medicine. They review completed work for results achieved and for conformance to department policies and requirements. At this level the supervisor places considerable reliance on the Respiratory Therapist's knowledge of complex procedures, and completed work is evaluated for technical soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy. The Respiratory Therapist will regularly use a variety of sources for guidance and make clinical decisions. The employee uses judgment in interpreting and adapting guidelines such as agency policies, regulations, precedents, and work directions for application to specific cases or problems. The employee analyzes results and recommends changes.

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Contributes ideas, plans and information to improve outpatient respiratory services.
• Performs outpatient and inpatient appointments covering all facets of respiratory care
• Manages the PAP clinic areas which includes oversight of compliance activities at VA Central Iowa HCS.
• Incumbent will have some supervisory responsibilities within the Pap clinics
• Works hands on in the sleep/PAP Clinics performing all pertinent duties. Develops and participates in continuing in-service education programs for departmental employees. Attends and participates in professional meetings and workshops to develop an awareness of new techniques and procedures. Upon approval, independently experiments with alternate and revised methods and procedures to improve techniques.
• Must develop skills through literature review of pulmonary medicine which include recognizing sleep and preliminary interpretation of diagnostic information.
• Aids in the development and regular review of policies and procedures; ensures that this program remains in compliance with existing VA policy and regulations and JCAHO standards.
• Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of all the program activities through standard and innovative techniques.
• Maintains statistical and patient data. Monitors individual performance standards and assists in retrospective audits.
• Serves as liaison between the department and its clinical consumers (i.e., nursing service, administration and other support services).
• Monitors staff educational needs and performs annual competency assessments for staff.
• Operate and manage key clinical, training, research or administrative programs including the day to day activities, resource management and fiscal management of those programs.
• Oversee administrative and programmatic resources.
• Develop and Implement short- and long-term goals and objectives consistent with the program and facility strategic plans.
• Perform and interpret complex analytical studies and prepare reports for facility, VISN and national use.
• Represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings and on facility level committees.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Telework: Ad-hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
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

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.
• 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-12 Registered Respiratory Therapist

Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must:

i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level, which is defined as: Collaboratively consulting with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes; Evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities; Performing advanced airway and ventilation management.

ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. The following certifications are preferred but not required:
a. Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist
b. Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certificate issued AARC
c. AE-C awarded by the NAECB
d. COPD Educator course offered by the AARC

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

i. Ability to develop policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures.
ii. Ability to implement policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures.
iii. Ability to maintain policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures.
iv. Ability to make recommendations regarding new and emerging procedures.
v. Ability to perform complex analytical studies of patient care.
vi. Ability to interpret results to coordinate the management and evaluation of patient care.
vii. Ability to coordinate the work of subordinate staff.
viii. Ability to manage all aspects of a complex patient care program including day-to-day operation, training program resources and fiscal management.

All qualifying experience you possess must be clearly described in your application package. We will not make assumptions when reviewing applications. Failure to demonstrate your experience in your resume may result in disqualification. It is strongly recommended that you write to each KSA in your application package.

Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. This assignment is designated as an RRT Program Coordinator, who oversees the administrative and clinical aspects of a major specialty program at complexity level 1 and 2 facilities only. Programs managed may include, but are not limited to; home oxygen, home ventilators, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinic, pulmonary procedure lab, sleep/positive airway pressure (PAP) clinic. RRTs may supervise and administratively manage employees assigned to their program(s) by providing leadership, direction, orientation, in-service training and continuing education programs for assigned staff. They perform analytical studies and interpret results to improve operations. They conduct all phases of service delivery, program resources and fiscal management. RRTs coordinate daily operations, develops and maintains policies and procedures for program operation and prepares reports and statistics for facility and Veterans Integrated Service Network use. They conduct a variety of audits, including clinical practice audits to evaluate operations and productivity and to ensure appropriate documentation of therapy, procedure, clinical outcomes and patient safety. They assist in determining quality and compliance data to be collected and investigates problems related to quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and recommends needed action. They make recommendations for program improvement and expansion based on research and emerging knowledge. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings.

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-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12.

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.

Area of Consideration: Current permanent VA employees of the facility.

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

• License
• RRT Credential
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• RECOMMENDED: Write to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) on a separate document - KSAs are found under qualification/grade requirements in the announcement.
• Resume/CV exceeding two-pages
• RRT Credential
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

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

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