Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary Function Technologist)
What you'd do
This Registered Respiratory Therapist (PFT) position is within Specialty Care services at the Providence VA Healthcare System located in Providence, Rhode Island. It is permanent and intermittent.
Major duties
The incumbent serves as a member of the Respiratory Therapy Section at the Providence 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: Administers treatment to ambulatory, non-ambulatory and critically ill patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting; Completes patient assessment through direct contact, chart review and other means as appropriate and shares the information with health care team members; Uses accepted measuring/monitoring tools for determining plan of care; Places nasal and oropharyngeal airway and performs nasal and tracheal suctioning; Obtains, analyzes and reports arterial and venous blood gas samples; Performs duties in the critical area to include: in- line suctioning, re-positioning, and securing Endo Tracheal tube, bag valve mask ventilation; Assists in patient transport and performing patient ventilator assessment; Performs pulmonary function testing; Provides outpatient services, such as positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care; and Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Work schedule is intermittent and varies. Tour of duty will be discussed during the interview process. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F07788, F02863, F02864, F02865 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Notifications: 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). The SF-50 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. This is a LIUNA Bargaining Unit position. This position is covered by locality-based comparability pay.
What you need to qualify
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. 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). 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). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 3 above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment as follows: Respiratory Therapist, GS-05. (a) Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Education and Licensure. This level assignment is designated as temporary under paragraph 4d(1) above for individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, licensed by their state and are working towards obtaining RRT credential. Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-07. (a) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have: Hold an active license and RRT credential. (b) 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. (a) 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 Hold an active license and RRT credential. OR A Master of Science degree in respiratory care and hold an active license and RRT credential. (b) 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. Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11. (a) 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. (b) 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. References: FORMER VA HANDBOOK REFERENCE: PART II APPENDIX G11 EFFECTIVE DATE: March 12, 2021 REGISTERED RESPIRATORY THERAPIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-0601 Preferred Experience: 2 or more years of Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) CPFT RPFT Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. 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-5 to GS-11.
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