Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) position is part of the Inpatient Respiratory Therapy Section within Specialty Care Service at Audie L. Murphy VAMC in San Antonio, Texas.

The role emphasizes advanced clinical judgment, team leadership, and coordination of respiratory care across inpatient settings. Candidates should hold an active RRT license with a CoARC-accredited program and demonstrate extensive experience in critical care, ventilator management, and involvement in

Qualifications

• Must have completed a respiratory care program accredited by CoARC or successor
• Must possess and maintain an active RRT license
• Must be proficient in English (spoken and written)
• Experience leading respiratory therapy teams and coordinating workloads
• Preferred BLS and ACLS certifications
• Minimum 5 years of clinical experience in oxygen modalities, aerosols, airway clearance, ABG interpretation
• RRT-ACCS credential preferred; 3 years ICU experience

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with ordering providers and follow established protocols
• Provide clinical guidance and supervise daily workload for the team
• Assess and adjust patient care plans based on assessments
• Initiate and monitor mechanical ventilators and NIV devices
• Lead department meetings and participate in quality improvement initiatives
• Perform routine and complex respiratory procedures for adults and geriatrics
• Ensure compliance with policies, safety standards, and documentation

Skills

Leadership experience

Clinical judgment

Communication

BLS

ACLS

Word/Excel

Arterial blood gases

Education

CoARC-accredited respiratory care program

RRT credential

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Medical charting software

Job description

Summary

The Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) position serves as a member of the Inpatient Respiratory Therapy Section within Specialty Care Service and is located at the Audie L. Murphy VAMC - in San Antonio - Texas. The Respiratory Therapy Section is responsible for providing the full range of clinical procedures related to respiratory therapy.

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: 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


• 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)


• 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: Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist - GS-12 Experience - Licensure and Credential: Candidates must: i


• Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level


• RRTs at this grade level in this assignment have experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment across many areas of respiratory care both inpatient and outpatient


• ii


• 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: i


• Ability to assign personnel and tasks to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of the workload


• ii


• Ability to oversee and direct clinical guidance in a manner that assures completion of the workload


• iii


• Ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds to solve problems and provide conflict resolution


• iv


• Ability to recommend uncommon or atypical interventions


• v


• Ability to recommend ways to improve patient care and operations through independent research and evaluation of new equipment and therapies Assignments: They ensure work is distributed among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization


• Lead RRTs assure timely accomplishment of the assigned workload - assess the status - quality and progress of work and make day-to-day adjustments in accordance with established priorities


• They provide clinical practice guidance for other respiratory staff and assist with technical work problems not covered by precedents or established policies for non-routine or complex procedures


• They assist RRTs in determining treatment options for complex patients


• They study the quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and take or recommend needed actions


• They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings Preferred Experience: -Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification -Basic understanding and application of computer use to include Word - Excel - and medical charting software


• -Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in application of all oxygen modalities including low flow and high flow systems - aerosol and nebulizer delivery systems - airway clearance modalities and proficiency in collection and interpretation of arterial blood gases


• -Registered Respiratory Therapist-Adult Critical Care Specialty (RRT-ACCS) credential -Minimum of 3 years of clinical experience in intensive care units


• Able to safely and competently initiate and monitor various mechanical ventilators - portable transport ventilators - and must possess knowledge and experience in delivery of inhaled nitric oxide


• Able to initiate application of CPAP and Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NPPV) devices


• -Crew member in ground or critical care transport team or team member of hospital acute care rapid response team


• -Previous experience in team leader capacity with ability to lead and provide resolution to clinical issues from assigned staff


• Able to distribute workload assignments appropriately and can work with minimal supervision


• -3 years of emergency department clinical experience -5 years of clinical experience in care and management of artificial airways to include ability to perform complete tracheostomy care as well as knowledge with application of speaking valve on tracheostomy tube


• 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-12


• Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required - depending on the needs of the organization.

Duties

• Services are rendered in collaboration with the ordering provider - either by specific orders - policy - or established protocol


• These functions and responsibilities are supported by education and administrative oversight


• Periodically - specific functions may change


• The primary services include - but are not limited to: Make recommendations in the absence of the Chief or Assistant Chief and will have full responsibility to modify the workload to accomplish the assigned duties


• Responsible for selecting and adapting equipment and techniques to individual patients to comply with the physician's instructions


• Work independently and is expected to resolve staffing problems using appropriate guidelines for staffing


• Resolve problems with equipment failure and make substitutions for equipment when necessary


• Review work performed on the units by conducting daily rounds to ensure compliance with established policies and procedures and to ensure technical accuracy and compliance with physician's instructions


• Monitor Leave and Attendance for assigned team - taking special note of excessive leave and/or tardiness of team members and will report these to supervisor for review


• Ensure work is distributed among employees in accordance with established workflow or job specialization


• Prepare work assignments for oncoming shift


• Collect - review - and evaluate relevant clinical data from the medical records - care team - patient - and patient's family to ensure appropriate care when indicated - reporting to the supervisor any discrepancies noted


• Capable of performing both basic and complex therapeutic procedures for adults and geriatric patients


• May assist with bronchoscopy and percutaneous tracheotomies


• Apply clinical expertise in such a manner as to upgrade patient care were indicated and assist the provider in formulating an appropriate respiratory care plan based upon patient assessment - history - lung auscultation - chest x-ray - pulse oximetry - etc


• Communicate changes in the respiratory therapy plan and/or patient status to other health care team members as appropriate


• Provide effective and relevant education to the patient - family - students - and facility staff when appropriate


• Perform both fundamental and advanced diagnostic procedures


• Perform emergency and acute respiratory therapy procedures in accordance with departmental guidelines and industry standards


• Actively participate in departmental quality assurance and hospital organizational performance improvement


• Maintain clinical and professional competencies based upon established standards of practice


• Assembles - checks - and corrects malfunctions and performs quality controls on all respiratory care equipment


• Participate with the in-service education pertaining to respiratory therapy


• maintaining a close relationship with other disciplines and students who may rotate through the health care facility


• Responsible to perform chart audits and monthly documentation submission - to include monthly encounters for assigned team


• Attend and represent Respiratory Therapy at meetings - such as - Critical Care Committee - Patient Safety - and other meetings where presence and expertise of Respiratory Therapy is expected - or when supervisor is unable to attend


• May assist in transport of patients on mechanical ventilation for procedures


• Work Schedule: Full-time


• Rotating Schedule 6:30p.m to 7:00a.m. - may include weekends and holidays Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position


• Functional Statement #: 53067-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized