Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist

Quick Facts

• Role: Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist (GS-12)
• Focus: Basic and advanced respiratory care for adult and geriatric patients
• Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 7:30am–6:00pm; occasional weekend coverage; schedule subject to change

Description

Provide basic and advanced respiratory services to adult and geriatric patients, including monitoring patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Collect, review, and evaluate clinical data from medical records, the care team, and the patient/family to support respiratory care plans. Communicate changes in care, educate patients and staff, perform diagnostic and emergency respiratory procedures, and contribute to departmental quality assurance and performance improvement.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate clinical data to ensure appropriate care
• Perform basic and complex therapeutic procedures (including mechanical ventilation monitoring and arterial blood gas interpretation)
• Develop and update respiratory care plans based on patient assessment, history, auscultation, chest x-ray, and pulse oximetry
• Recommend treatment changes to providers based on patient observation and diagnostic values
• Provide education to patients, families, students, and facility staff
• Perform fundamental and advanced diagnostic procedures
• Perform emergency and acute respiratory care procedures per departmental guidelines and industry standards
• Participate in departmental quality assurance and hospital performance improvement
• Comply with safety policies; maintain competency; perform equipment checks, corrections for malfunctions, and quality controls
• Conduct in-service education and coordinate with rotating disciplines and students
• Assign staff duties and provide continuous respiratory coverage (e.g., ICU, ER) when assigned staff are on breaks or unavailable
• Monitor department supplies, order as needed, and request repair/replacement through VA IT and Biomedical departments

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Completion of a respiratory care program accredited by CoARC (or successor)
• Full, current, unrestricted state license to practice as an RRT
• Valid, current, unrestricted RRT credential
• Meet VA employment conditions, including background/security investigation and pre-employment physical
• Subject to urinalysis drug screening for testing-designated positions
• Selective Service registration (for applicable candidates)
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program
• Demonstrated 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-11 level clinical competencies
• Demonstrated KSA requirements: assign/oversee clinical tasks; direct guidance; communicate across diverse backgrounds; recommend uncommon/atypical interventions; improve patient care and operations via independent research and evaluation
• Preferred: 2–3 years of ICU experience and leadership experience

Benefits

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