Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

Quick Facts

• Role: Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

• Setting: Respiratory Therapy Unit, Pulmonary Section; provides care for inpatient and outpatient Veterans in ICU/SCI, acute care, and specialty areas

Description

Provide respiratory therapy services to Veteran patients, performing respiratory therapy modalities and advanced airway management according to policies, procedures, and physician orders.

Set up, monitor, and troubleshoot ventilators; support elective and emergency airway intubation; administer therapeutic respiratory treatments; and ensure correct operation of respiratory equipment.

Document in VA clinical systems, complete hand-off reporting, and continuously monitor ventilator function during patient transport.

Responsibilities

• Perform volume ventilator setup, monitoring, and troubleshooting

• Provide airway care and advanced airway management, including intubation support

• Measure respiratory compliance, tidal volume, inspiratory force, and tracheal cuff pressures

• Provide oxygen and life support during CPR

• Respond to STAT calls for equipment failure or malfunction

• Administer therapies such as E-Z Pap, Metaneb, Aerobeka, aerosolized medications, and helium/oxygen mixtures

• Perform tracheal lavage, sputum induction, chest percussion, and postural drainage

• Instruct patients on breathing techniques; administer incentive spirometry per orders

• Prepare and install CPAP/BIPAP, flow meters, heaters, and tank regulators

• Verify equipment operation per physician orders; recognize malfunctions and report

• Use sterile suction catheters for secretion removal; ensure non-disposable items are sent for sterilization via SPD

• Chart in CPRS, Vista, and Essentris; provide complete hand-off reports

• Evaluate cardiopulmonary status to determine therapy effectiveness

• Continuously monitor ventilator function while transporting ventilator-dependent patients to radiology or specialty areas

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship

• Proficiency in written and spoken English

• Completion of a CoARC-accredited respiratory care program (or successor)

• Full, current, unrestricted RRT license from a state to practice (must maintain)

• Valid, current, unrestricted RRT credential (must maintain)

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959

• Complete VA onboarding and pre-employment requirements

• Seasonal influenza vaccination participation required

• May be required to complete urinalysis screening

• Must meet physical standards for the role

• Complete a 1–2 year trial period with written certification to continue employment

Benefits

A comprehensive U.S. federal employee benefits package; eligibility depends on position type.