Respiratory Therapist

Summary

The purpose of the position is to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate the delivery of respiratory therapy services for neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients with acute or chronic cardiopulmonary disorders. This position is located in a clinical service within an Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital at Northern Navajo Medical Center, Shiprock, NM. A REAL ID will be required beginning May 7, 2025, in accordance with 6 C.F.R. 37.5 (2021).

Duties

Performs routine airway care including tracheostomy and endotracheal tube maintenance, cuff pressure monitoring and equipment troubleshooting. Maintains ventilatory support during intra-facility transport and modifies therapy in response to clinical changes. Works with patients and their families, physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and other allied health professionals throughout the facility of inpatient units, intensive care areas, emergency departments, outpatient clinics, and during patient transport who may be anxious, critically ill, or experiencing significant distress. Performs basic pulmonary diagnostic procedures including spirometry and limited pulmonary function testing. Explains respiratory procedures, treatment plans, and equipment use to patients and families. Responds to respiratory and cardiopulmonary emergencies including respiratory distress, trauma, and cardiac arrest.

Qualifications

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. In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: GS07: 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: Drawing blood samples and performing blood gas analyses. Providing aerosol therapy, chest physiotherapy, postural drainage, airway and secretion-management interventions. Administering oxygen therapy. Performing basic trouble shooting of related respiratory equipment. Ensuring proper cleaning, assembly and safety checks of equipment. OR One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Graduate education in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. GS08: 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: Operating ventilator and related respiratory equipment. Performing blood gas analysis and interpreting blood gas results. Communicating treatment recommendations to care team. Performing basic pulmonary diagnostic procedures. Responding to respiratory and cardiopulmonary emergencies. Providing orientation and in-service training. Time In Grade Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP). You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education

This position has an education requirement.If you are substituting education for experience; You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.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/.