Registered Respiratory Therapist

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.

01Basic Requirements

United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

02Education

Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.

03Licensure

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.

Exception: RT positions will be designated only to individuals who are in the process of obtaining credentials to become an RRT. These individuals will only be hired on a temporary appointment as provided below. VHA may waive the RRT credential requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified and pending completion of prerequisites for RRT credential.

Individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, are fully licensed by their state and are working toward completion of their RRT credential may be given a temporary appointment as an RT. The temporary appointment is made under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) for a period not to exceed one year from date of employment.

Candidates must hold an active, current, full and unrestricted RRT credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07 level. RTs may only be temporarily appointed at the GS-05 level and may not be promoted/converted to a higher-level position as an RRT until the RRT credential is received. RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT. Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment.

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). Grandfathering Provision 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. (Continued in Additional Information Section).

04Grade Determinations

GS-05 Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Experience: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignment. This is the entry level developmental position. RTs 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.

RTs are responsible for such assignments as 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 and participating in care team rounds. GS-07 Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Experience, Education, Licensure and Registration: In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess their RRT credential.

AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care. Skill in analyzing physiological specimens obtained to include arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, End tidal Co2 (ETCo2) monitoring, basic spirometry and other basic diagnostic procedures.

Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform basic airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation. GS-09: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) Experience or Education, Licensure and Credential.

Candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.

Clinical competencies include but are not limited to: 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; provide outpatient services, such as positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care; OR A Master of Science degree in respiratory care AND a license AND an RRT credential.

AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation.

GS 11 Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) 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.

Clinical competencies include but are not limited to: 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; AND Hold an active license and RRT credential.

AND 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.

05Preferred Experience

One (1) year of ICU 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-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-11.

06Physical Requirements

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

The incumbent serves as a member of the Respiratory Therapy Section at the VISN 1 VA Healthcare System. The Respiratory Therapy subsection is responsible for providing the full range of clinical procedures related to respiratory care. Duties include but are not limited to: Demonstrates the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the following duties within the scope of Respiratory Care. Works independently providing respiratory care in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings.

Uses data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met. Consult 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 using appropriate mechanical means. Determine and implement complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, bronchoscopy, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation.

Responsible for performing Home Oxygen Evaluations, Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT), Bronchial Provocation Testing (Methacholine Challenge), Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing, Home CPAP/BiP APNP AP set-ups with Compliance Checks, Mask Fitting and Dispensing, Patient Education, and basic maintenance. Assess patients by history, pulmonary physical assessment, and chart review before the start of therapy. Changes in these findings during therapy and results of therapy will be recorded.

Utilize knowledge regarding the use of medications in respiratory therapy and will observe the patient for desired and adverse effects of those medications, as well as the effects of the type of therapy delivering the medications. Monitors critical systems. Use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services, such as home ventilators and COPD case management. Suggests alternate modes of treatment where indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment.

Performs invasive procedures such as arterial line placement. Serve as a preceptor to lower graded staff and may lead projects developing new policies, procedures or protocols. Performs additional duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 6:45 pm - 7:15 am, with weekends and holiday rotations. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F02862 at GS-05, F02863 at GS-07, F02864 at GS-09, and F02865 at GS-11.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure: Not Required Notifications: (continued in Additional Information Section) This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

Narrative responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). SF-50s must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.