Summary

The Fayetteville - NC VA Medical Center has an immediate opening for a Registered Respiratory Therapist (Polysomnography Sleep Lab Coordinator) to work within the Specialty Care Service line under the Medicine/Respiratory Care department.

Qualifications

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:

• 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
• 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: People appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full - current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT
• Credential: People appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid - current - unrestricted credential of RRT
• (1) Exception
• RT positions will be designated only to individuals who are in the process of obtaining credentials to become an RRT
• These individuals will only be hired on a temporary appointment as provided below
• (a) VHA may waive the RRT credential requirement for people who are - otherwise - qualified and pending completion of prerequisites for RRT credentials
• Individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor - acquired the CRT credential - are fully licensed by their state and are working toward completion of their RRT credential may be given a temporary appointment as an RT
• The temporary appointment is made under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) for a period not to exceed one year from date of employment
• Candidates must hold an active - current - full and unrestricted RRT credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07 level
• (b) RTs may only be temporarily appointed at the GS-05 level and may not be promoted/converted to a higher-level position as an RRT until the RRT credential is received
• (c) RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT
• (d) Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment
• Failure to Obtain Credential
• In all cases - RTs must actively pursue meeting national prerequisites for the RRT credential from the first day of their appointment
• Failure to become credentialed within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0601 RT series and may result in termination of employment
• The Human Resources (HR) Office staff will provide RTs - in writing - the requirement to 1) obtain their RRT credential
• 2) the date by which the RRT credential must be acquired
• and 3) the consequences for not becoming RRT credentialed by the deadline
• The HR Office staff must provide written notices to selectees prior to entrance on duty date and maintain a copy in the electronic Official Personnel Folder
• Loss of Licensure - Certification or Credentials
• An employee in this occupation - who fails to maintain the required certifications - RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation - which may also result in the termination of employment
• Once credentialed - licensed or certified - RTs/RRTs must maintain a full - valid and unrestricted license - credential and certification to practice respiratory care
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS
• All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements above in paragraph 4 a-g and all basic qualification requirements defined in the specific assignment
• All positions must be designated in one of the approved titles or parenthetical title - as described below and duties must meet the definition of the assignment: Grade Determinations: Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph 3 above - 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-12 (Polysomnography)
• Experience - Licensure and Credential
• Candidates must have: i
• One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level
• ii
• Hold an active license and RRT credential
• iii
• Certification
• Candidates must hold a RPSGT
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the requirements above - candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: a
• Skill in performing polysomnographic studies to include obtaining both physiologic and diagnostic data
• b
• Skill in calibrating and troubleshooting polysomnographic equipment
• c
• Skill in monitoring both physiologic and diagnostic parameters
• d
• Skill in scoring data both during and post diagnostic testing
• e
• Skill in analyzing data both during and post diagnostic testing
• f
• Skill in preparing output for physician interpretation of data obtained both during and post diagnostic testing
• g
• Skill in the assessment of oxygenation - ventilation and adverse responses
• Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• RRTs at this grade level in this position perform polysomnographic testing and titration studies including activities such as applying electrodes and various monitors to multiple body sites per protocol
• They evaluate the relationship of events - sleep stages and possible medical conditions which influence or result from events occurring during sleep
• They anticipate problems likely to occur during the sleep study - prepares for such situations and makes changes in established procedures
• They obtain data measuring wake - sleep and breathing states and records various signals from the brain and airways - cardiac rate - oxygen saturation and position to enable the physician to assess and diagnose sleep and breathing disorders
• RRTs troubleshoot and calibrate polysomnography - computer - oximeters - movement monitors and patient electrodes prior to the onset of each recording
• They analyze and score patient data and summarize on report for physician interpretation
• They monitor and initiate interventions for complications of testing and determines whether patient meets criteria for termination of testing
• They perform electroencephalogram and home sleep testing and evaluate results
• Note: RRTs coordinate daily operations - develops and maintains policies and procedures for program operation and prepares reports and statistics for facility and Veterans Integrated Service Network use
• They conduct a variety of audits - including clinical practice audits to evaluate operations and productivity and to ensure appropriate documentation of therapy - procedure - clinical outcomes and patient safety
• They assist in determining quality and compliance data to be collected and investigates problems related to quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and recommends needed action
• They make recommendations for program improvement and expansion based on research and emerging knowledge
• They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12 Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Area I: Collection of Diagnostic Information Compare and evaluate the indications and contraindications for sleep studies
• Explain results in relation to types of respiratory sleep disorders
• Monitor and evaluate the patient's clinical condition with pulse oximetry - electrocardiogram - exhaled gas analysis - and other related diagnostic devices
• Perform arterial and venous sampling for blood analysis
• Area II: Disease Management Understand the etiology - anatomy - pathophysiology - diagnosis - and treatment of cardiopulmonary diseases (e.g. - asthma - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and comorbidities
• Communicate and educate to empower and engage patients
• Develop - administer - and re-evaluate patient care plans
• Communicate and educate to empower and engage patients
• Develop - administer - and re-evaluate patient care plans
• Area III: Evidence-Based Medicine and Respiratory Care Protocols Retrieve credible sources of evidence
• Critique published research
• Evaluate and treat patients in a variety of settings - using the appropriate respiratory care protocols
• Area IV: Patient Assessment Review and interpret pulmonary function studies (spirometry) and pulse oximetry
• Review and interpret lung volumes and diffusion studies
• Review and interpret arterial blood gases - electrolytes - complete blood cell count - and related laboratory tests
• Area V: Leadership Ability to communicate orally and in writing at varying levels - both internal and external to the organization
• Skill in the development of and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory Care
• Maintains statistical and patient data
• Formulates evaluation of equipment needs - preventive maintenance and organization of expendable and non-expendable equipment and supplies related to the program
• Area VI: Emergency and Critical Care Perform endotracheal intubation
• Perform arterial line placement and management
• Perform IV and/or midline placement and management
• Manage monitoring system
• Manage airway devices
• Identify indications for circulatory gas exchange devices
• Deliver therapeutic interventions based on evidence-based medicine and clinical protocols
• Area VII: Assessment of Therapeutics Medical gas therapy
• Humidity therapy
• Lung expansion therapy
• Airway management
• Review patient history - laboratory results - and imaging data
• Determine indications/contraindications for therapy
• Interview and conduct physical examination of patient
• Determine appropriateness of order
• Determine need for physician intervention
• Monitor patient's response to therapy
• Instruct patient on proper technique
• Recognize and rectify equipment malfunction (troubleshooting)
• Follow Standard Precautions for infection control
• Recognize complications and respond to adverse effects
• Recommend therapy modifications
• Assess therapy effectiveness
• Document therapy
• Area VIII: Application of Therapeutics to Respiratory Care practice Evaluate compressed gas cylinders
• Evaluate regulators and flow meters
• Evaluate liquid-oxygen systems (stationary and portable)
• Evaluate oxygen concentrators (stationary and portable)
• Evaluate high-flow air-entrainment systems
• Evaluate oxygen and air-flow-meter mixing systems
• Evaluate air/oxygen blenders
• Evaluate high-flow nasal cannulas
• Evaluate unheated passive humidifiers
• Evaluate active and passive heat-and-moisture exchangers (HMEs)
• Evaluate heated humidifiers for medical gas delivery systems via mask - tracheal catheter - and artificial airways
• Evaluate peak expiratory flow meters and inspiratory flow meters
• Evaluate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices
• Evaluate expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) devices
• Evaluate positive expiratory therapy (PEP)
• Evaluate oscillatory positive expiratory therapy (OPEP)
• Evaluate positive airway pressure adjuncts (vibratory and non-vibratory PEP)
• Evaluate expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) devices
• Describe the role of a respiratory therapist in therapeutic bronchoscopy
• Evaluate the need and use of tracheostomy tubes (competency in advising decannulation or change to alternative airway based on assessment/protocols)
• Evaluate the need and use of noninvasive-ventilation interfaces: nasal mask - nasal pillows - oro-nasal mask - full-face mask - and helmet
• Area IX: Post-Acute Care Assess physical-vital signs - functional capacity
• Assess cognitive-level of comprehension - reading level - language barriers
• Recommend care plan modifications by recognizing additional needs that exist (e.g. - bathroom safety - wheelchairs - electric beds - portable supplemental oxygen delivery systems)
• Other duties related to this position may be assigned
• Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 2:00pm - 10:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized