Registered Respiratory Therapist

Description:

The Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) serves at the full performance level, working independently to provide complex respiratory care in inpatient and outpatient settings. Key responsibilities include patient assessment, disease management for chronic and acute conditions, and participating in emergency response teams.

Requirements:

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements :
Citizenship . Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, of this part. See 38 U.S.C. 7407(a) for more information.

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).

Education . Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.

Licensure. Licensing within the respiratory occupation is outside of the credentialing process. Those who have obtained their degree from an accredited program in respiratory care and hold a CRT or RRT credential may be granted a license from a state.

Credential . In the field of respiratory care there are two types of credentials granted in the credentialing process to becoming registered as defined below:

• CRT. Upon graduation from an accredited program, Respiratory Therapists (RT) are eligible to take a national examination and upon passing, the individual is granted the credential of CRT by the NBRC. RTs who hold a CRT credential are limited in duties and responsibilities and differ from those who hold an RRT credential.
• RRT. Upon graduation from an accredited program, RTs are eligible to take a national examination and upon passing, the individual is granted the credential of RRT by the NBRC.

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).

Grade Determinations : In addition to the basic requirements for employment, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignment as follows:

Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11 (Full Performance Level)
Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have:
i. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.
ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities . In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:
i. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes.
ii. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities.
iii. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management.

Preferred Experience:
Submission of Performance Appraisal
Minimum 1 yrs of respiratory care experience

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11.

Physical Requirements: See VA HANDBOOK 5005/141