Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency
• RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38U.S.C. 7403(f)
• 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
• Certification
• 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
• Grandfathering Provision
• 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)
• All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• Grade Determinations: Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-07
• Experience, Education, Licensure and Registration
• In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess their RRT credential
• 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
• Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-09
• 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
• Examples of specialized experience 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
• They use accepted measuring/monitoring tools for determining plan of care
• They place nasal and oropharyngeal airway and perform nasal and tracheal suctioning
• RRTs obtain, analyze and report arterial and venous blood gas samples
• They perform duties in the critical area with close supervision to include in- line suctioning, re-positioning and securing Endo Tracheal tube, bag valve mask ventilation, assisting in patient transport and performing patient ventilator assessment
• RRTs 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
• 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
• Assignments
• This is a developmental position
• RRTs at this grade level are responsible for the following under general guidance in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings
• Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11: Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level
• Examples of specialized experience include, but are not limited to: responsible for the following under general guidance in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings
• RRTs obtain, interpret and analyze physiological specimens and data
• They consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty
• They 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
• Licensure and Credential: Hold an active license and RRT credential
• Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to responsible for the following under general guidance in both inpatient and/or outpatient settings
• RRTs obtain, interpret and analyze physiological specimens and data
• They consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty
• They 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
• 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
• They use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met
• They consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty
• 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-7 to 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).