Registered Respiratory Therapist at Charleston

JOB SUMMARY:

Southern charm, hospitality and history imbue Charleston, one of the most well-preserved cities in the United States.

 

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 921770 

OUR MISSION:  To fulfill President Lincolns promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans. 

 

How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?  Located in the historic part of the city of Charleston, the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center serves more than 53,000 veterans in 22 counties along the South Carolina and Georgia coastline in our main Medical Center or one of six community-based outpatient clinics.  The main Medical Center provides acute medical, surgical, and psychiatric inpatient care, as well as outpatient primary and mental health care to low country veterans who require more than 659,000 outpatient visits and approximately 4,300 inpatient stays annually.  The 117 bed hospital currently operates 96 beds and a 28 bed nursing home unit.  Charleston VAMC supports the Vet Centers in North Charleston, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.

 

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries.

 

NOTE: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-8.  The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidates education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed.  The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.

 

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.  The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

 

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• U. S. Citizenship
• Must pass pre-employment examination
• English Language Proficiency required
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

DUTIES:Back to top

This position is located in Anesthesiology Service/Respiratory section.  The incumbent, under the supervision of the Supervisor of Respiratory Therapy, displays excellent proficiency and performs at a level of excellence in respiratory therapy care in an excellent manner.  Their services are performed in accordance with the guidelines established by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC), and American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines, and departmental policies and procedures. 

·  Works collaboratively with other Registered Respiratory Therapist and Certified Respiratory Therapists (CRTs) in the section.

·  Therapeutic and diagnostic procedures with the use of medical gases and administration devices, humidification and aerosols. 

·  Administration of medication to the cardiopulmonary system.

·  Ventilatory support, including maintenance and management of life support systems, and the patient/ventilator interface.

·  Bronchopulmonary drainage and breathing exercises.

·  Pulmonary rehabilitation

·  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

·  Insertion and maintenance of airways

·  Arterial puncture and arterial line insertion

·  Recognition of the need for medical intervention if patient is at risk 

 

Tour Of Duty: Night shifts from 7:30pm until 08:00am to include weekends, nights, holidays and some day shifts when staffing is required.

 

Relocation Expenses are not authorized for this position.

 

 

 

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

 

Citizenship.  Citizen of the United States. 

 

Registered Respiratory Therapist.  Has a certificate as an RRT from the NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) and a registry number, or a certificate from another body which the NBRC recognizes as its credentialing equivalent.  This includes registration based on either:

 

    (1)  Having fulfilled the requirements and passed the registry examination administered by the NBRC since 1983, or

 

    (2)  Having fulfilled the requirements and passed the registry examination for a registered inhalation or respiratory therapist administered by the (1) National Board for Respiratory Therapy from July 1974 through 1982 or (2) American Registry of Inhalation Therapists from 1961 through June 1974.

 

Physical Standards.  See VA Handbook 5005, Part III, Chapter 2, paragraph 7, and VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Occupational Health Services. 

 

English Language Proficiency.  RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

 

GRADE REQUIREMENTS. In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualifications criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.

 

  a.  GS-7.  None beyond the basic requirements.

 

  b.  GS-8.  Candidates must have all of the following:

 

(1)  At least 1 year of successful experience related to respiratory therapy at the GS-7 level or equivalent.  Qualifying experience at this level is work which includes duties such as: administering assisted and controlled ventilation to patients with tracheotomies and other complex medical problems requiring frequent adjustments in ventilator parameters; administering and monitoring advanced ventilator techniques such as positive end expiratory pressure and continuous positive airway pressure; developing plans for weaning patients from ventilators; assessing the respiratory status of patients using data acquired through physical observation and clinical analysis of blood gas data, chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered and to make recommendations to physicians regarding changes in treatment; performing the most difficult respiratory therapy procedures to maintain ventilation, including endotracheal intubation, tracheal lavage, and tracheotomy care; and providing in-service training to others in various specialized areas of respiratory care.

 

(2)  Demonstrated knowledge and ability needed to perform complex respiratory procedures with minimal supervision.  Is able to participate with physicians and nurses and other staff in planning respiratory treatment, with great reliance on the individual’s knowledge of the equipment.

 

(3)  Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide emergency or critical respiratory care; service as a shift leader or supervisor or sole responsible respiratory therapist on a shift; and to plan and conduct training sessions with respiratory therapy students, hospital staff, patients, and family members.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

 

References : VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G11, Registered Respiratory Therapist Qualification Standard http://vaww.va.gov/ohrm/Directives-Handbooks/Documents/5005.pdf, dated April 15, 2002.

 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: All candidates must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, without hazard to themselves or others. This includes moving equipment and supplies, lifting, bending, stooping and possible exposure to body fluid is involved. Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13” to 16”; Hearing (aid permitted).

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE:  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Veterans Preference:

 

When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on their application or résumé. Applicants claiming preference based on service-connected disability, or based on being the spouse or mother of a disabled or deceased Veteran, must complete an SF 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference. Veterans who are still in the service may be granted tentative preference on the basis of information contained in their applications, but they must produce a DD Form 214 or other proof prior to appointment to document entitlement to preference.  For more information on Veterans Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Applicants responsibility:  It is the applicants responsiblity to submit documentation to support his/her application for this position.  Applicant is responsible for ensuring that all experience, education, formal training, award recognition, etc. are documented in the application package.  Experience may include voluntary or other non-paid experience in the appropriate field.  If you feel that your training record contains information pertinent to your qualifications, then you must submit a printed copy of your training record with your application package.  Your training record will become a part of the specific vacancy file and will not be filed in Official Personnel Folder.

 

This announcement is not intended to cover all aspects of the duties, responsibilities or qualifications of this position.  Request for copies, return of forms or transfer of consideration to another announcement will not be honored.

 

Employees must meet qualification standards and other regulatory requirements by the closing date of the announcement.

 

Interviews: Management may interview candidates for this position and may elect to use the Performance Based Interviewing (PBI) process.  If PBI is used, questions will be job-related, reasonably consistent and fair to all candidates.  You can isit http://www.va.gov/pbi to learn more about PBI, frequently asked questions and aids to prepare for an interview.  Additionally, printed reference material is available at each Human Resources Office.

 

INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS will receive a rating of IDMA (failed to submit required documents as specified in the vacancy announcement).  Requests for reconsideration of ratings will not be considered for applicants who fail to submit a complete application package.  We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, fax transmissions, delays in mail service, etc.

 

Country: USA, State: South Carolina, City: Charleston, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.