Respiratory Therapist

About the Position: This position is located at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas, United States. Student Loan Repayment May Be Authorized. Advance in Hire May Be Authorized. Relocation Incentive May Be Authorized. Recruitment Incentive May Be Authorized. Advance Leave Accrual May Be Authorized. Non-Federal work experience may be creditable for leave purposes. This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

Major duties

• Perform patient assessments through examination, analyses of laboratory results/ interpretation of x-rays for independent adjustment of ventilator settings in emergency situations and makes recommendations to physicians.
• Perform High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation and Intrapulmonary Percussive Ventilation using specialized equipment; set up, monitor, and troubleshoot nitric oxide and helium/oxygen delivery systems in emergency department and ICUs.
• Receive orders from physician and independently apply appropriate protocols for continuing patient care; implement patient care plans and protocols for weaning patients from ventilatory life support systems.
• Assess condition of patients via physical examination/respiratory monitoring/diagnostic equipment; use complex equipment such as blood gas analyzers and co-oximeters to analyze blood samples.
• Monitor and interpret values such as pulse oximetry, arterial blood gas analysis, expired carbon dioxide and EKGs for the purpose of reporting patient status and making recommendations to physicians regarding treatment.
• Perform airway management including securing the tracheotomy and endotracheal tube sites, tracheostomy care, and adjusting the endotracheal tube as required based on x-ray results; performs CPAP and spontaneous breathing trials
• Perform bedside pulmonary function tests such as Flow Volume Loops, Negative Inspiratory Pressure, Total Minute Ventilation, Forced and Slow Vital Capacities. Sputum Induction for Acid-Fast Bacillus culture and cytological studies.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education and/or experience requirements described below. 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; student; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application. Additional information about transcripts is in this document. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience which includes Setting up respiratory equipment; assessing patients' conditions; and recording patients' treatment. This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-07). OR Education: One and a half years of graduate level education in a field directly related to the work of the position, such as Respiratory Therapy and/or Respiratory Care. OR Combination of Education and Experience: A combination of education and experience may be used to qualify for this position as long as the computed percentage of the requirements is at least 100%. To compute the percentage of the requirements, divide your total months of experience by 12. Then divide the total number of completed graduate semester hours (or equivalent) beyond the first year (total semester hours minus 18) by 9. Add the two percentages. Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) from National Board for Respiratory Care is highly preferred.

Education

FOREIGN EDUCATION: If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must show the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.