Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist

Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent employees of the facility/CBOCs of the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

• Evaluates and assigns work assignments in Sleep and Diagnostic areas to meet patient care needs ensuring appropriate coverage of staff and resources
• Provides direct patient care on day-to-day operations in sleep and diagnostic areas.
• Plans work schedules and operations making changes in the organization of work within allowable costs and established policies, expediting procedures and reports in a timely manner.
• Monitors and verifies all work performed by Respiratory Therapists is completed as ordered in a timely manner using direct observation and other quality measures.
• Assists in the development, update, and maintenance of standard operating procedures and ensures they are in compliance with Joint Commission and other accrediting agency requirements, departmental or hospital policies and guidelines.
• Approves or disapproves leave requests as appropriate
• Provides competency training for all Respiratory Care staff on an annual and as needed basis.
• Works with the Chief and Medical Director to ensure assigned areas meets all Joint Commission and other sleep related regulatory requirements.
• Evaluates and monitors patient/staff workflow in sleep and diagnostic areas.
• Recommends and implements changes to improve the timeliness and efficiency of care in assigned areas.
• Ensures staff's timely documentation of work performed.
• Provides care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assigned area (i.e. adult and geriatric patient populations). This entails knowledge of human growth and development; ability to assess and interpret age specific data and provide age specific care; communication skills necessary to interpret age specific response to treatment; and ability to involve family/significant others in decision making related to plan of care. The knowledge, abilities, and skills needed to provide such care will be refined through continuing education, training, and experience
• Collaborates with Chief, Respiratory Care and the Education Service Line for planning and implementing effective educational programs for inservices, orientation, continuing education, annual competency training for all employees in sleep and diagnostic throughout the year.
• Coordinates and provides clinical/technical respiratory trainings/education to staff and patients.
• Provides inservice/training to the physicians, nurses and other disciplines upon request.
• Ensures employees complete and maintain licensures, competencies, and department and hospital mandatory trainings.
• Collaborates with Chief, Respiratory Care in the continuation of annual Respiratory conferences and other training that will promote quality Respiratory Care services.
• Obtains continuing education credit for staff through the Texas Society for Respiratory Care or AARC (American Association for Respiratory Care).
• Responsible for preparing formal performance evaluations of employees under his/her supervision
• Recommends approval, modification, or rejection of formal requests from subordinates for promotion, reassignment, status changes, and awards.
• Deals with the Union Steward and others when applicable on personnel matters
• Responsible for auditing care/service, and recommending changes when indicated..

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am - 4:00pm, subject to change based on the needs of the facility
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:580-02376F
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 identification 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.
• Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. 7403(f).
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor.
• Licensure: Persons appointed or reassigned to Registered Respiratory Therapist 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 a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
• Credential: Persons appointed or reassigned to Registered Respiratory Therapist positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) through National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: (KSAs must be clearly reflected in resume under description of duties in order to be found qualified for this position/grade level).


Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist GS - 13

Experience, Education, Licensure and Registration: Candidates must have:

• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.
• 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 plan and assist in the establishment of a completely integrated respiratory care program.
• Ability to recommend improvements based on evaluation of facility operations.
• Ability to supervise employees.
• Ability to manage the fiscal aspects of the functions supervised.

Preferred Experience: 2 years clinical experience in Sleep/Diagnostic Respiratory Care, 2 years closed loop ventilation management experience
5 years medical/surgical intensive care experience

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-13.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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:

• License
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week.

SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Eligibility):

• Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee

In addition to your most recent SF-50, other examples of SF-50's to include in your application packet include:

• Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or
• Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or
• SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.

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
• License
• CV/Resume
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• 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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