Registered Respiratory Therapist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Kings (NY); On-site; USD 86,000 - 108,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs in Brooklyn, NY, seeks a Registered Respiratory Therapist (GS-11) for the Nursing, Ambulatory Care Service. The role provides outpatient PAP, oxygen therapy, COPD care, and in-hospital respiratory therapies, with supervision by physicians and care teams.

The candidate must hold a current RRT credential, an active state license, and meet VA credentialing timelines. Experience in adult respiratory care and collaboration with care teams is expected.

Qualifications

• Must have a CoARC-accredited respiratory care program.
• Must hold a full, current state license to practice as an RRT.
• Must hold and maintain a valid RRT credential.
• Failure to credential within one year may lead to removal from the GS-0601 RT series.

Responsibilities

• Provide respiratory care in inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop care plans.
• Evaluate the efficacy of respiratory therapies and manage airway/ventilation.
• May serve as a preceptor and lead projects developing policies, procedures, or protocols.

Skills

RRT credential

Communication with physicians

Licensure compliance

Education

CoARC-accredited respiratory care program

RRT credential

State license to practice as RRT

Job description

We are recruiting for one full-time Registered Respiratory Therapist to join the Nursing, Ambulatory Care Service at Brooklyn VA Medical Center, Kings NY. RRTs provide outpatient services, such as positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, oxygen therapy and COPD care. The therapist identifies and analyzes factors related to equipment operation and patient responses to discern their interrelationship.

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.
• 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. The Human Resources (HR) Office staff will provide RTs, in writing, the requirement to 1) obtain their RRT credential; 2) the date by which the RRT credential must be acquired; and 3) the consequences for not becoming RRT credentialed by the deadline. The HR Office staff must provide the written notice to selectees prior to entrance on duty date and maintain a copy in the electronic Official Personnel Folder.
• 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).
• 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).

Creditable Experience

Experience is only creditable if credentialed as a Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) or RRT, the experience is in respiratory care, pulmonary function testing or polysomnography and directly related to the position being filled. To be creditable, the candidate's experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) associated with current practice in paid employment as a CRT or RRT.

Grade Determinations

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

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. They manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means. RRTs determine and implement complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, bronchoscopy, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation. They monitor critical systems. They use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services, such as home ventilators and COPD case management. RRTs suggest alternate modes of treatment where indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment. RRTs at this grade level may perform invasive procedures such as arterial line placement. They serve as a preceptor to lower graded staff. They may lead projects developing new policies, procedures or protocols.

Preferred Experience:

Experience with intubation is preferred.

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 GS-11.