Respiratory Therapist

This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same.

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. 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; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience.

You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

Individual Occupational Requirements for Respiratory Therapist Series 0651: Qualifying specialized experience must have demonstrated a knowledge of basic equipment used in respiratory therapy and included duties such as: Making regular rounds on hospital nursing units to review or collect clinical data to insure that the respiratory equipment is operating properly and in compliance with physicians' orders.

Transporting, setting up, or testing the operation of and changing simple oxygen administering devices, e.g., masks and nasal cannulas with cylinder or centralized medical gas systems. Disassembling, cleaning, assembling, and sterilizing reusable respiratory equipment such as oxygen analyzers and regulators, including recognizing and reporting variations from expected results.

Minimum Qualification for the GS-0651-07, you must meet one of the following: Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks examples include: Independently providing emergency inhalation therapy treatments to critically ill and high risk patients.

Sets up and operates pressure ventilators, pneumatic nebulizers to administer complex inhalation therapy treatments. Calibrates and maintains blood gas analyzer and blood gas supplies. OR Education: Your resume must demonstrate successful completion of 1 year (18 semester hours) of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position. OR Combination: Your resume must demonstrate a combination of qualifying education and experience that meets the minimum qualifications described above.

The percentage of the education requirement met, plus the percentage of the experience requirement met, must total at least 100% to qualify at the GS-07 level.

Minimum Qualification for the GS-0651-08, you must meet one of the following: Experience: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks examples include: Performing a variety of difficult respiratory therapy such as administering various medications to patients with acute and chronic respiratory distress.

Performs airway and tube care on intensive care patients. Sets up, manages and monitors a variety of complex respiratory equipment. OR Education: Your resume must demonstrate successful completion of 1 1/2 year (27 semester hours) of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position. OR Combination: Your resume must demonstrate a combination of qualifying education and experience that meets the minimum qualifications described above.

The percentage of the education requirement met, plus the percentage of the experience requirement met, must total at least 100% to qualify at the GS-08 grade level. You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Provide respiratory care, diagnostic testing, and therapeutic treatments for adult and pediatric patients in emergency, inpatient, and outpatient settings. Assess patients, perform respiratory procedures and diagnostic tests, monitor patient progress, and work with healthcare providers to develop and adjust treatment plans. Serve as a clinical resource by educating staff, maintaining respiratory equipment, supporting quality patient care, and ensuring accurate documentation.

Educate and support patients and healthcare staff by providing instruction on respiratory treatments, equipment use, and breathing techniques to promote safe and effective care. Maintain respiratory therapy equipment and records by ensuring equipment is functioning properly, documenting patient care, and supporting continuous, high-quality respiratory services. Physical Demands: The work involves walking, sitting, standing, reaching and bending in the assessment and treatment of patients.

Requirement: IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently, temporarily, or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases, consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available, as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.