Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary)

Veterans Health Administration•Milwaukee, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is aligned with the Respiratory Care Unit in the Medicine Service at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. The Registered Respiratory Therapist provides basic and advanced respiratory services primarily to adult and geriatric patients and must also understand basic treatment for all age groups. The therapist plans, implements, and evaluates respiratory care procedures throughout the hospital, serving acute-care and long-term-care patients, homecare, and patients undergoing diagnostic pulmonary testing. The role includes setting up and monitoring respiratory equipment, helping healthcare staff determine patients’ equipment and therapeutic needs, and supporting appropriate staffing for emergency responses and facility events. The therapist provides training and in-services to staff, patients, and caregivers; coordinates equipment-operation instruction and safety procedures; and follows up on repair and maintenance needs. The position also includes coordinating therapist assignments according to staff competence and experience, educating patients and families, and working with the Pulmonary Lab and Prosthetics department on patient assessment and interventions. The therapist applies knowledge of respiratory pharmacology and evaluates medication and treatment effectiveness, identifies complications and interactions, and may recommend treatment changes or alternatives to physicians. The employee must meet position-specific competency requirements, including age-specific competencies, and safely operate equipment needed for assigned duties. The position is full-time, with a Monday–Friday schedule from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; telework and virtual work are not available. The full performance level is GS-12.

Requirements

Successfully complete a respiratory care program accredited by CoARC or its successor.
Hold and maintain a full, current, unrestricted state license to practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapist.
Hold and maintain a valid, current, unrestricted RRT credential.
Be proficient in spoken and written English.
Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 level, demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment across inpatient and outpatient respiratory care.
Hold an active license and RRT credential.
Hold a CPFT or RPFT certification.
Demonstrate knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing, including cardiopulmonary stress, exercise, metabolic, bronchoprovocation, and shunt testing.
Demonstrate ability to establish a quality control program for a pulmonary function laboratory.
Demonstrate skill in analyzing physiologic specimens and information from basic diagnostic procedures.
Demonstrate skill in assessing adverse signs and symptoms related to medications or testing procedures and determining appropriate interventions.
Demonstrate ability to train others in and provide clinical consultation on advanced pulmonary function procedures.
Have Basic Life Support certification before assuming clinical duties; accepted courses are AHA BLS Healthcare Provider or Military Training Network, and online certifications are not accepted.
Meet the position’s competency and age-specific competency requirements and safely operate equipment necessary for assigned duties.
Meet applicable federal employment conditions, including U.S. citizenship, background/security investigation, and required onboarding and identification requirements.

Responsibilities

Set up and monitor respiratory equipment for acute-care and long-term-care patients, homecare, and diagnostic pulmonary testing.
Assist nursing, medical, and other healthcare staff in determining patients’ equipment and therapeutic needs.
Participate in and assist with determining respiratory staffing needs for CODE 4, Rapid Response, facility events, disasters, and drills.
Coordinate appropriate respiratory staffing with management to support patient safety and care.
Provide respiratory-related in-services, training, and competency support to respiratory therapists, nurses, medical and ancillary staff, patients, and caregivers as needed or assigned.
Provide information and coordinate training on respiratory equipment operation, cleaning, and safety precautions.
Complete work orders and follow up on respiratory and pulmonary equipment repair, maintenance, or performance assessment.
As coordinator, assign respiratory therapists according to their competence and experience.
Educate patients and families about respiratory equipment, treatment procedures, and their use, while providing reassurance and comfort.
Work with the Pulmonary Lab and Prosthetics department to assess patients and provide appropriate interventions.
Assess respiratory medication and treatment effectiveness, identify complications or drug interactions, and recommend changes or alternatives to physicians as appropriate.
Safely operate required equipment and perform other duties as assigned.