Registered Respiratory Therapist

Full Job Description

The recruitment is for one (1) Registered Respiratory Therapist, credentialed by and in good standing with the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) with a current and unrestricted Respiratory Therapy License.

The incumbent will work in critical, non-critical, emergent, and clinical areas of the hospital and perform other duties within their scope of practice and as assigned by the supervisor.

Tibor Rubin History Welcome to Long Beach VA Medical Center 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. Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor.

Licensure: Persons 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: Persons 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.

English Language Proficiency: applicants must be proficient in spoken and written English.

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 above, applicants must meet the grade requirements below.

GS-11 Experience: Applicants must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-9 level.

In addition, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: 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. Assignment: This assignment is the full performance level.

RRTs at this grade level work independently providing respiratory care in inpatient and procedural areas (Operating Room and Bronchoscopy procedure).

The specific assignments are dependent on facility structure and complexity levels. They use data and patient assessment to establish appropriate plan of care and determine if outcomes are being met.

They consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to ensure quality of patient care within area of specialty.

They manage and maintain the airway and ventilation of the patient using appropriate mechanical means.

RRTs determine and implement complex respiratory care such as protocols, respiratory modalities, bronchoscopy, medications or supplemental oxygen and intubation. They monitor critical systems.

They use advanced modes of ventilation and outpatient services, such as home ventilators and COPD case management.

RRTs suggest alternate modes of treatment where indicated based on assessment and analysis of patient response to treatment.

RRTs at this grade level may perform invasive procedures such as arterial line placement. They serve as a preceptor to lower graded staff.

They may lead projects developing new policies, procedures or protocols. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

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

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time; frequent bending, reaching, stooping, and stretching to set up and take apart respiratory equipment and apparatus; lifting, repositioning, safely moving patients (over 100 lbs.) with assistance as needed; and pushing or pulling heavy objects (over 50 lbs.) such as oxygen tanks and/or ventilator equipment, routinely lifting and carrying small equipment items (less than 50 lbs.).

The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above-average dexterity to perform intricate respiratory therapy procedures. Major Duties:

Major functions may include but are not limited to the following and require that the employee, with or without reasonable accommodations, be able to: Maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) certified and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications.

Both are mandatory requirements of Code Teams members.

Promptly respond to all STAT pages regarding a patient's cardio-pulmonary status, making an assessment of and providing emergency ventilation and /or oxygenation support for patients as needed.

Promptly responds to cardiac/respiratory arrest, provides emergency airway management and assists in CPR. Assist in endotracheal tube insertion and securing of tube placement.

Upon completion of Advanced Cardiac Life Support course and training by an anesthesiologist in proper techniques of intubation (OORAM certified), the incumbent may perform intubation in critical or life-threatening situations if hospital privileges are approved.

Assess airway patency, including auscultation of the lung field and documentation of findings.

Assesses and document the ventilatory status of the patient and provide assistance in determining the course of care.

Provide and monitor delivery of inhaled medication as directed and prescribed by a physician. This can be delivered by, but not limited to updraft nebulizers, meter dose inhalers and/or spin inhalers.

The incumbent will monitor and document effectiveness of medication, cardiac response before and after delivery, changes in breath sounds, cough production and patients' response, if possible, to effectiveness of medication delivery and documenting any adverse reactions.

Complies with BCMA directive. Provide and monitor delivery of oxygen administration as ordered and directed by a physician.

This can be delivered by, but not limited to oxygen delivery devices such as nasal cannulas, oxygen mask, venturi mask, non-rebreathing mask, aerosolized oxygen devices and high flow delivery devices.

The incumbent will monitor and document type of delivery device, effectiveness of delivery by pulse oximetry or arterial blood gas results, patient's work of breathing pattern and observed dyspnea on exertion and any other adverse reactions.

Provide and monitor all modes of invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation as ordered and directedby a physician.

Mechanical ventilation can include, but not limited to volume- controlled ventilation, pressure-controlled ventilation, pressure support ventilation, and bi-level invasive and noninvasive ventilation.

Perform, monitor, and document physician order changing the modes of ventilation, oxygen concentration, positive end expiratory pressure, pressure support, peak flow, sensitivity, inspiratory pressure, expiratory pressures, respiratory mechanics and alarm settings on all mechanical ventilatory devices.

Monitor and document per physician orders static and dynamic compliance, airway resistance, rapid shallow breathing index, pressure/volume/flow graphics or other available data to enhance ventilator and/or artificial airway weaning.

Keep abreast of new and effective means of monitoring and assist in the implementation of protocols to improve weaning methods.

Provide and document artificial airway maintenance and care to ensure a mechanism to prevent nosocomial infections.

This will include both endotracheal tube and tracheotomy tubes as provided by respiratory care policies and procedures.

Provide and document airway clearance by either endotracheal, tracheal or nasotracheal suctioning utilizing strict infection control measures at all times.

Provide input and assistance in changing or downsizing of tracheotomy tubes per a physician order.

Assure preventive measures are taken and are documented to decrease Hospital Acquired Pressure Incidents with endotracheal tubes or masks.

Provide and document chest physiotherapy as directed by a physician.

Perform and document arterial punctures to obtain arterial blood gas samples for analysis per the Joint Commission standards, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations.

Maintaining biohazard and infection control policy standards at all times. Perform arterial blood gas analysis. Always maintains biohazard and infection control policy standards.

Documenting and informing ordering physician of any values (pH/PaCO2/PaO2) that fall within the "Critical Value Range".

Perform diagnostic testing procedures to include but not limited to bedside spirometry, nocturnal oximetry and oxygen therapy assessments, 6- minute walk test, wrist oximetry and home sleep studies within facility.

Review on an annual basis, as new changes are provided, or policies are updated the departments Policy and Procedure Manual. Other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Functional Statement #: 0000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized