Registered Respiratory Therapist at Fargo

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 979339

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincolns promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans.  

 

Fargo is a thriving metropolitan area of nearly 200,000 that offers a sense of solid values and has been ranked 1 nationally for safety.  Additionally, the July 2010:  Money Magazine ranked Fargo among top "100 Best Places to Live".  The community supports 4 hospitals, 3 colleges and all the amenities one would expect in a metropolitan area including great shopping, excellent private and public schools, an active arts community, and sports activities for every interest.  If the Minnesota lakes country appeals to you we are a short commute from the tranquility of the great outdoors.  Major metropolitan areas of Minneapolis and Winnipeg are an easy drive down the interstate and the major airlines offer direct service to many cities.  Fargo/Moorhead is a diverse, stimulating, family-oriented community with, affordable housing, and an overall low cost-of-living, all amenities that make for a satisfying and fulfilling life.  Join a dynamic leadership team at a progressive medical center in a truly wonderful community!  Go to http://www.fargomoorhead.org/ or http://www.fmchamber.com/ for more information.

 

Note:  The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.  The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7- to GS-8.  The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate’s education and experience and recommend the grade and step at which the candidate will be placed.  The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.  The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are not authorized for this position.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must pass pre-employment examination
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

DUTIES:Back to top

Registered Respiratory Therapist will perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in hospital nursing units, emergency room, intensive care units and outpatient clinic areas, under the direction of physicians or other licensed independent practitioners. Duties include delivery of entire spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic respiratory therapy services for direct patient care and for specialized patient care you will be responsible for arterial line placement, performing airway care to include first line responsibility for out of the OR intubation, independent responsibility for changing and decannulation of tracheostomy tubes and assisting physicians when performing bronchoscopes and thoracentisis.  You will need to have technical knowledge of the basic functions and maintenance of the blood gas machines and be able to perform and document equipment calibration and quality control as indicated in the pulmonary section and ABG lab policy; knowledge of data bases for extracting and inputting patient information; and maintain an awareness of flow sheets and forms used in the pulmonary service.

 

Work Schedule:  Night shift (12 hours); weekends are optional.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:   

• U.S. citizenship.  Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 
• RRT certificate from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and a registry number, or a certificate from another body which the NBRC recognizes as its credentialing equivalent.  This includes registration based on either:  (1) fulfilling the requirements and passed the registry examination administered by the NBRC since 1983, or (2) fulfilled the requirements and passed the registry examination for a registered inhalation or respiratory therapist administered by the (1) National Board for Respiratory Therapy from July 1974 through 1982 or (2) American Registry of Inhalation Therapists from 1961 through June 1974
• Physical Standards:  See Physical Requirements below.
• English Language Proficiency - Direct patient-care positions require proficiency in both spoken and written English per 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).

 

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

GS-7 - Basic Requirements listed above.

 

GS-8 - One year of successful experience at GS-7 level or equivalent.

(1) Qualifying experience at this level is work which includes duties such as: administering assisted and controlled ventilation to patients with tracheotomies and other complex medical problems requiring frequent adjustments in ventilator parameters; administering and monitoring advanced ventilator techniques such as positive end expiratory pressure and continuous positive airway pressure; developing plans for weaning patients from ventilators; assessing the respiratory status of patients using data acquired through physical observation and clinical analysis of blood gas data, chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered and to make recommendations to physicians regarding changes in treatment; performing the most difficult respiratory therapy procedures to maintain ventilation, including endotracheal intubation, tracheal lavage, and tracheotomy care; and providing in-service training to others in various specialized areas of respiratory care.

(2) Demonstrated knowledge and ability needed to perform complex respiratory procedures with minimal supervision. Is able to participate with physicians and nurses and other staff in planning respiratory treatment, with great reliance on the individual’s knowledge of the equipment.

(3) Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide emergency or critical respiratory care; service as a shift leader or supervisor or sole responsible respiratory therapist on a shift; and to plan and conduct training sessions with respiratory therapy students, hospital staff, patients, and family members.

 

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G11 Registered Respiratory Therapist Qualification Standard at http://www.va.gov/ohrm/joblistings/VAQualStds.doc.

PLEASE NOTE:  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling (up to 1 hour); Pushing (1 – 2 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (up to 3 hours); Standing (up to 3 hours); Repeated bending (up to 1 hour); Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13” to 16”; Hearing (aid permitted).

Veterans Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.

Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.  For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Country: USA, State: North Dakota, City: Fargo, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.