Respiratory Therapist

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes evaluating respiratory therapy patients, maintaining respiratory therapy equipment, and administering respiratory therapy treatments to patients.

This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: One and a half years of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Respiratory Therapy and/or Respiratory Care. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%.

To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages.

Setsup and monitor a variety of complex respiratory equipment such as ventilatory life support systems for the most seriously ill patients in the intensive care units, trauma room, labor and delivery special care nursery, and emergency room.,Perform assessments of patients through examination, analyses of laboratory results and interpretation of x-rays,Perform High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation and Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation using specialized equipment.,Set up, monitor and troubleshoot nitric oxide delivery systems and helium/oxygen delivery systems in the emergency department and ICUs.,Receive written and verbal orders from the physician and independently applies appropriate protocols for continuing care for the patient.,Receive written and verbal orders from the physician and independently applies appropriate protocols for continuing care for the patient.,Develop and implement patient care plans for weaning patients from ventilatory life support systems. Monitors patients closely to avoid incidents, recommends and adopts safe procedures and techniques to be used.,Monitor and interpret values such as pulse oximetry, arterial blood gas analysis, expired carbon dioxide and EKGs for the purpose of reporting patient status and making recommendations to physicians regarding treatment.,Monitor tube cuff pressure and inspect equipment and patient to ensure proper functioning of the ventilatory life support system.,Use MHS Genesis information systems to document patient information, orders and activities performed.,Perform emergency repair of ventilatory life support systems used on the intensive care units.