Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist

Veterans Health Administration•Cleveland, OH

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting a Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist to work in Medicine Service. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Inpatient Supervisor Respiratory, performs the position’s functions with minimal supervision, independently plans and carries out assignments, and makes day-to-day decisions using initiative. Work is reviewed based on results supporting the VAMC’s mission and program goals; complex problems are referred to the supervisor. The therapist provides respiratory care to patients, applying knowledge of cardiopulmonary diseases, medications, medical gas systems, and diagnostic testing. Care includes assessment, treatment planning, therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, medication administration, ventilator support, airway maintenance, blood gas work, patient education, and emergency response. The Lead provides clinical practice guidance to other respiratory staff, communicates and documents care, and recommends improvements to patient care and operations through research and evaluation of equipment and therapies. The position is scheduled Monday through Friday, 6:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Telework is not available, and the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized. The full performance level is GS-12. Applicants must meet VA education, licensure, credential, experience, and competency requirements. The position requires completion of a CoARC-accredited respiratory care program, a full, current, unrestricted state license to practice as an RRT, and a valid, current, unrestricted RRT credential, subject to applicable grandfathering provisions. Candidates for the GS-12 Lead assignment must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-11 demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment, as well as the specified clinical competencies and KSAs. The work may involve moderate lifting and other recurring physical exertion, including prolonged standing or walking and handling respiratory equipment.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, except where appointment of a non-citizen is permitted under VA policy when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Successful completion of a respiratory care program accredited by CoARC or its successor, subject to applicable grandfathering provisions.
Full, current, unrestricted state license to practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), maintained throughout employment, subject to applicable grandfathering provisions.
Valid, current, unrestricted RRT credential, maintained throughout employment, subject to applicable grandfathering provisions.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
One year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-11 demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.
Experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment across inpatient and outpatient respiratory care.
Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing and stress/exercise testing; ability to maintain a related quality-control program and treat acute complications of pulmonary function testing.
Skill in performing polysomnographic studies, obtaining physiologic and diagnostic data, and calibrating and troubleshooting polysomnographic equipment and monitoring.
Ability to assign personnel and tasks to assure workload completion.
Ability to oversee and direct clinical guidance to assure workload completion.
Ability to communicate with people from varying backgrounds to solve problems and provide conflict resolution.
Ability to recommend uncommon or atypical interventions.
Ability to recommend improvements to patient care and operations through independent research and evaluation of new equipment and therapies.
Must complete required background/security investigation, onboarding, application documentation, and pre-employment identification requirements; selected applicants in testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis.
Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
Physical capacity for the described work, which may include moderate carrying (15–44 lbs.), pushing and pulling, reaching, finger use, walking, standing, bending, and rapid coordination.

Responsibilities

Independently plan and carry out assignments, make day-to-day decisions, and refer complex problems to the supervisor.
Assess patients and provide respiratory therapy treatments and progressive treatment programs.
Perform therapeutic and diagnostic procedures involving medical gases, administration devices, humidification, and aerosols.
Administer medications and provide ventilator support, bronchopulmonary drainage, breathing exercises, CPR, rapid response support, airway maintenance, and out-of-operating-room intubation when indicated.
Perform arterial blood gas procedures and blood gas analysis, and conduct routine vital-sign measurements, including pulse oximetry and respiratory assessment.
Identify indications, contraindications, hazards, complications, and barriers associated with respiratory procedures and prescribed modalities.
Recommend treatment alternatives or modifications to physicians based on laboratory results, drug complications or interactions, and patient response.
Maintain and troubleshoot ventilators, BiPAP/CPAP machines, oxygen systems, and computer systems; report unresolved equipment problems to appropriate personnel.
Recognize and respond appropriately to adverse reactions and urgent or emergency situations, including acute changes in patient condition, hypoxia, chest pain, and cardiac or respiratory arrest.
Communicate professionally with patients, families, coworkers, and other staff, and document patient care in CPRS and the BCMA medication delivery system.
Provide clinical practice guidance to other respiratory staff.
Educate patients and families about respiratory modalities and apply current respiratory-care practices.
Recommend improvements to patient care and operations through independent research and evaluation of equipment and therapies.
Follow medical-gas safety practices, use modality-appropriate personal protective equipment, and maintain a clean, organized, hazard-free patient-care environment.
Assign personnel and tasks, and oversee and direct clinical guidance to ensure workload completion.