Registered Respiratory Therapist

Veterans Health Administration • Augusta, ME

22d • Onsite

About The Position

This Registered Respiratory Therapist position is in Medical service at the VA Maine Medical Center, located at the Augusta, Maine location. The incumbent is responsible for administering a variety of therapeutic respiratory therapy treatments, setting up and monitoring respiratory equipment, performing bedside diagnostic tests, and assisting with advanced airway placement. They will also initiate artificial ventilation during cardiac arrests, maintain airway clearance during transport, and perform routine respiratory therapy treatments. Additionally, the role involves providing in-service training, calibrating equipment, recording patient care information, and ensuring equipment is in good condition and compliant with safety codes. Evening shift therapists have additional responsibilities related to oxygen tank management. The position also includes ordering and maintaining supplies, and ensuring timely processing of reports and procedures. The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all requirements are met. This is a full performance level GS-11 position.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Must complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Must serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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. § 7403(f).
• Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.
• Licensure: Possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT.
• Credential: Possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT.
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level and hold an active license and RRT credential.
• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 1-3+ years Experience in acute care settings ICU, ED, or medical surgical units
• Ventilator management experience (invasive and non-invasive)
• ABG (arterial blood gas) sampling and analysis
• Bronchoscopy assistance experience
• BLS, ACLS and PALS certification
• NBRC credentialing as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Responsibilities

• Administers a variety of therapeutic respiratory therapy treatments.
• Sets up and monitors respiratory equipment such as invasive and noninvasive ventilators, end tidal CO2 monitors, oxygen delivery devices, re-breathers and oximetry monitors.
• Performs bedside diagnostic tests to assess the respiratory status of patients.
• Under general guidance performs Advanced Airway placement of LMA placement or may assist physicians and full performance RRT's in placing more advanced artificial airways into patients as required.
• Under guidance, during cardiac arrests, initiates artificial ventilation using mouth-to-mask techniques or a manual ventilation bag to restore patient's heartbeat and maintain ventilation.
• During transport of patients, maintains clearance of airway, monitors vital signs, and performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation when necessary.
• Performs routine respiratory therapy treatment to hospital ward patients such as administering oxygen and therapeutic aerosols, and incentive spirometry, chest physical therapy.
• Provides in-service training to other respiratory therapists and nursing personnel relative to the types of treatments given, various types of medications used, and the set up and operation of respiratory equipment including the necessary cleaning and safety precautions.
• Calibrates complex respiratory equipment under guidance such as PFT analyzers to assure accurate performance.
• Records treatment, findings and progress pertinent to patient care.
• Ensures that reports and procedures are processed and returned to the requesting physician on a timely basis.
• Ensures that all machines and equipment are in good condition and are in compliance with all safety codes.
• Distribute tanks to various clinical areas as needed.
• Collect empty tanks and return to the designated storage room.
• Daily updates the tank level logs to reflect the number of empty and full tanks in stock.
• Orders and maintains a proper level of supplies.
• Monitor and maintain adequate levels of oxygen tanks in at least the Special Care Unit, the Post Anesthesia Care Unit, the medical/surgical wards, Emergency Department and the Nursing Home Care Unit (Evening shift therapists).
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package
• Federal employee benefits
• Annual (vacation) leave accrual based on years of service
• Credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work experience or military service experience

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree