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
• 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: Must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential 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: Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11: In addition to the basic requirements for employment above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment as follows: Registered Respiratory Therapist GS-11
• 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
• 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 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
• Assignments
• This assignment is the full performance level
• RRTs at this grade level work independently providing respiratory care in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings
• The specific assignments are dependent on facility structure and complexity levels
• Specialized Experience includes: Independently provides Pulmonary Function Testing for both inpatient and/or outpatient settings, receives Pulmonary Function consults for scheduling, give patient notice of future appointments verbally, mailed written letters and by phone, consult literature on a regular basis (e.g
• AARC Times, Respiratory Care, etc.) to stay acquainted with alternative modes of therapy and keep technically up to date, calibrates and operates Pulmonary Function equipment and accessories daily, maintains in functioning condition, ensuring safety and efficient operation, troubleshoot all PFT machines and equipment interacting with vendor as needed, cleans Pulmonary Function equipment in between patient testing according to manufactory guidelines, performs diagnostic tests to include arterial blood gas analysis, spirometry, pulse oximetry, peak flow, and negative inspiratory force and COPD management, administers oxygen involving the use of variety of standard respiratory equipment to include low flow systems, perform resting and exercise oxygen saturation in PFT Lab, perform respiratory care procedures in PFT Lab such as therapeutic and diagnostic aerosol, metered dose inhalers, evaluates efficacies of therapeutic modalities, ability to perform all Pulmonary Function testing procedures, uses advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services, such as NIP, MIP, and 6 Minute Walk testing, etc
• and demonstrating the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities at the GS-9 level
• In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: GS-11 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:1
• Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.2
• Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.3
• Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management
• Preferred Experience: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) 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
• Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in patient care areas, inpatient and outpatient
• Extensive interaction with patients, staff, physicians, family members, and visitors is involved
• It may involve walking, standing, and bending, reaching and stretching to set-up and taking apart equipment, lifting and positioning patient and carrying, pushing or pulling moderate heavy objects (15-44 lbs.).