Registered Respiratory Therapist

US Department of Veterans Affairs; Buffalo (NY); Presencial; USD 70.000 - 90.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

US Department of Veterans Affairs' Buffalo VA Medical Center is seeking a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) to manage airway and ventilation, implement complex respiratory care protocols, and coordinate care with the medical team. The role requires a CoARC-accredited program, active state licensure, and RRT credentialing, with potential temporary appointments during credentialing processes.

Candidates must meet English proficiency standards and may qualify for grandfathering provisions as

Formación

• Must hold or be pursuing RRT credential.
• Full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT.

Responsabilidades

• Manage and maintain airway and ventilation using appropriate mechanical means.
• Determine and implement complex respiratory care protocols and modalities.
• Administer medications or supplemental oxygen and assist with intubation as required.
• Collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals for optimal patient outcomes.

Conocimientos

Therapeutic modalities

ABG analysis

ETCO2 monitoring

Spirometry

Airway management

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Educación

CoARC-accredited respiratory care program

RRT credential in progress

Descripción del empleo

The Buffalo VA Medical Center is recruiting for one Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) for the Specialty Care service line. The RRT manages and maintains the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means and determines and implements complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation. 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 Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor.
• Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to Registered Respiratory Therapist (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.
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT.
  4. Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment.
  5. Failure to Obtain Credential. In all cases, RTs must actively pursue meeting national prerequisites for the RRT credential from the first day of their appointment. Failure to become credentialed within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0601 RT series and may result in termination of employment.
• Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials. An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment. Once credentialed, licensed or certified, RTs/RRTs must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care.
• Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
• 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).

Grandfathering Provision.

1. (1) Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation.
2. (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
3. (3) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
4. (4) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
5. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
6. (6) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA.

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.

1. Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care.
2. 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.
3. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes.
4. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation.
5. Ability to perform basic airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation.

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-09.

Experience or Education, Licensure and Credential.

1. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level;

OR

1. A Master of Science degree in respiratory care AND a license AND an RRT credential.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

1. Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care.
2. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes.
3. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation.
4. Ability to perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation.

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11.

Experience, Licensure and Credential.

Candidates must have:

1. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.
2. Hold an active license and RRT credential.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

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.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-11.