Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary)

Quick Facts

• Role: Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary) (GS-12)
• Setting: Inpatient and/or outpatient pulmonary care and clinics
• Core focus: Advanced pulmonary function testing (PFT) and respiratory therapy

Description

Provide independent respiratory care in inpatient and/or outpatient settings, including complex pulmonary function testing. You will review and evaluate clinical data, develop respiratory therapy plans, and interpret normal/abnormal PFT results while assessing indications and contraindications. The role also includes precepting lower-graded staff and potentially leading projects to develop pulmonary/respiratory policies, procedures, or protocols.

Responsibilities

• Review, collect, and evaluate relevant clinical data
• Formulate respiratory therapy plans based on patient assessment
• Communicate recommendations and changes with the healthcare team
• Provide education and training to patients, students, and coworkers
• Perform fundamental and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (e.g., arterial puncture, blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, endotracheal intubation, oxygen administration)
• Perform emergency and acute respiratory therapy per hospital/department guidelines
• Rotate through clinics such as Home Oxygen, Pulmonary Clinic, and CVT
• Conduct diagnostic evaluations including spirometry before/after bronchodilator, lung volumes, diffusing capacity, slow vital capacity, maximum voluntary ventilation, airway resistance, and conductance
• Set up and interface equipment/computers, troubleshoot, and perform preliminary interpretation
• Participate in departmental quality assurance and hospital-wide performance improvement
• Maintain clinical and professional competency
• Assemble, inspect, correct malfunctions, and perform quality controls on respiratory therapy equipment
• Provide quality control oversight for spirometry performed at other locations
• Serve as therapist-in-charge when assigned/when the Chief is absent
• Promote patient- and customer-centered communication and culturally appropriate care

Benefits

A comprehensive federal employee benefits package (eligibility depends on position type).