Summary The Respiratory Therapist in the Home Respiratory Care Program (HRCP) provides essential clinical and logistical support to veterans receiving home oxygen therapy. This role involves delivering respiratory care services and equipment to patients in outpatient clinics, homes, Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs), Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs), and through Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC). The position required a blend of clinical expertise, patient education, and equipment management. Responsibilities Clinical Support & Patient Care Administer therapeutic and diagnostic procedures involving medical gases, humidification, aerosols, and cardiopulmonary medications. Provide ventilatory support, including setup, maintenance, and monitoring of life support systems and ventilator alarms. Perform bronchopulmonary drainage, breathing exercises, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Insert and maintain airways (e.g., tracheostomies) as clinically indicated. Evaluate patients and identify when medical intervention is necessary to ensure safety. Educate patients, families, and caregivers on respiratory care techniques and equipment use. Support TeleHealth services across all care settings. Logistics & Equipment Management Review daily routing sheets to prepare and deliver appropriate oxygen equipment and supplies. Operate a variety of vehicles (sedans, cargo vans, trucks up to 21,000 lbs.) including those with power lift gates, in compliance with JAHVA requirements. Conduct pre-trip vehicle inspections, refueling, and minor emergency repairs; maintain vehicle cleanliness and readiness. Safely load, unload, and secure equipment and oxygen cylinders using proper techniques. Maintain supply par levels and return excess equipment to stock for reissue. Follow warehousing standards for storing and stacking equipment to prevent damage or contamination. Administrative & Compliance Duties Maintain accurate documentation including travel logs, vehicle inspections, and emergency equipment checks. Process and distribute incoming and outgoing mail in accordance with VA and postal regulations. Complete all required training, including patient safety, fall prevention, fire safety, and respiratory equipment updates. Maintain current CPR/BLS certification and assist medical personnel as needed. Maintain TMS training Ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations related to respiratory care and medical equipment transport. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm (alternating weekends and holidays maybe also required) Compressed/Flexible: Maybe available based on the needs of the service. Functional Statement #: 72172F, 72173F, 72174F, and 70909F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period (Veterans' Preference Eligible Applicants) -OR- a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education: Successful completion of a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor is required. (If your school program was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the websites, or has changed names, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating). NOTE: A transcript from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions must be submitted with your application. Licensure: A full, current and unrestricted license from an state to practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) is required. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your license(s) with your application. Credential: A valid, current, unrestricted credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as a Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) is required. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your credential(s) with your application. Loss of Licensure, Certification or Credentials: An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment. Once credentialed, licensed or certified, RTs/RRTs must maintain a full, valid and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations - In addition to the Basic Requirements for employment above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs defined in the specific assignments as follows: Respiratory Therapist, GS-05. Experience. None beyond the basic requirements. Education and Licensure. This level assignment is designated as temporary under paragraph 4d(1) within the Registered Respiratory Therapist Qualification Standard for individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, licensed by their state, -AND- are working towards obtaining RRT credential. Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-07 Experience, Education, Licensure -AND- Registration. In addition to the basic requirements, candidates must possess their RRT credential. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to perform therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care. Skill in analyzing physiological specimens obtained to include arterial blood gases, pulse oximetry, End tidal Co2 (ETCo2) monitoring, basic spirometry and other basic diagnostic procedures. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for respiratory care to help provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform basic airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation. Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-09 Experience -OR- Education, -AND- Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level; -AND- a license -AND- an RRT credential. -OR- A Master of Science degree in respiratory care -AND- a license -AND- an RRT credential. -AND- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Skill in performing therapeutic modalities related to respiratory care. Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals to help provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in assessing oxygenation and ventilation. Ability to perform airway management to include artificial airways and mechanical ventilation. Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-11 Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. Hold an active license and RRT credential. -AND- Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/OHRM/QualificationStandards/HT38/0601-RegisteredRespiratoryTherapist.pdf. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-11. Statement of Preferred Experience and Requirements. Licensed Respiratory Therapist with clinical experience in home respiratory care. Valid drivers' license and ability to meet JAHVA driving and insurance requirements. Proficient in operating and maintaining respiratory care equipment and medical vehicles. Proficient in operating all Outpatient Patient Respiratory equipment. Strong communication, documentation, and patient education skills. CRP/BLS certification required. Work Enviroment & Physical Requirements: Work is performed in outpatient clinics, patient homes, SNFs, ALFs, and HPBC settings. Required frequent interaction with patients, caregivers, and healthcare staff. Exposed to environment hazards during work. Involves physical exertion such as lifting 45 lbs. bending, stooping, and prolonged driving. Must be able to operate vehicles in various weather and road conditions. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. 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. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
