Registered Respiratory Therapist - Indian Health Service

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience: For positions at GS-4 and above: Qualifying specialized experience must have demonstrated a knowledge of basic equipment used in respiratory therapy and included duties such as: Making regular rounds on hospital nursing units to review or collect clinical data to insure that the respiratory equipment is operating properly and in compliance with physicians' orders. Transporting, setting up, or testing the operation of and changing simple oxygen administering devices, e.g., masks and nasal cannulas with cylinder or centralized medical gas systems. Disassembling, cleaning, assembling, and sterilizing reusable respiratory equipment such as oxygen analyzers and regulators, including recognizing and reporting variations from expected results. Examples of qualifying experience include work as a practical nurse, nursing assistant, medical machine aid, medical technician, or respiratory therapy aid if the above duties were performed. OR Education and Training: For GS-4: Successful completion of a 2-year accredited course of study leading to an associate's degree in respiratory therapy. For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy. In addition, to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below- MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS-07: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Independently providing emergency inhalation therapy treatments to critically ill and high-risk patients. Sets up and operates pressure ventilators, pneumatic nebulizers to administer complex inhalation therapy treatments. Calibrates and maintains blood gas analyzer and blood gas supplies. OR 1 year or 18 semester hours of graduate education directly related to the work of the position GS-08: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Performing a variety of difficult respiratory therapy such as administering various medications to patients with acute and chronic respiratory distress. Performs airway and tube care on intensive care patients. Sets up, manages and monitors a variety of complex respiratory equipment. OR 1 1/2 year or 27 semester hours of graduate education directly related to the work of the position SELECTIVE FACTOR: Must possess and maintain a current, active, registration as Registered Respiratory Therapist with The National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) and an active, unrestricted, state license as a Respiratory Therapist in any state. Provide respiratory therapy assessment, treatment, and monitoring services for patients across the lifespan in inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and critical care settings. Administer oxygen therapy, aerosol medications, airway management, ventilator support, and other respiratory care modalities. Perform blood gas analysis, pulmonary function testing, and other diagnostic procedures to evaluate respiratory status. Respond to respiratory emergencies and provide critical care support, including CPR, airway management, and ventilator management. Educate patients, families, and staff regarding respiratory treatments, equipment use, and disease management. Operate, calibrate, troubleshoot, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment while ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and infection control standards. Document care provided and participate in quality improvement and respiratory care program activities. Requirements: (Continued) This is a competitive vacancy announcement advertised under Delegated Examining Authority. Selections made under this vacancy announcement will be processed as new appointments to the civil service. Current civil service employees would therefore be given new appointments to the civil service; however, benefits, time served, and all other Federal entitlements would remain the same. IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work per