Registered Respiratory Therapist

• 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)
IHS Selectees whose duties and responsibilities require them to work permanently temporarily or occasionally in an IHS healthcare facility must comply with the IHS Employee Immunization Policy related to vaccine-preventable diseases consistent with recommendations for healthcare workers. Vaccine exemption requests may be available as outlined in the IHS Employee Immunization Policy and facility guidance.

Physical Demands: The work involves walking sitting standing reaching and bending in the assessment and treatment of patients.

Additional Information: (Continued)
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. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

Selectee may be subject to a probationary period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630 requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

On-call hours or standby duty may be required.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify including your rights and responsibilities visit will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation Requirement:

This position requires the successful completion of a federal background investigation as a condition of employment.

A background investigation is a standard process used by the Federal Government to verify an individuals identity employment history education and other relevant information to determine suitability for Federal service.

Upon receipt of instructions applicants must complete all required background investigation forms within five (5) calendar days of issuance. Timely completion is critical to avoid delays in processing or a determination of unsuitability.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prioritize this requirement and to maintain regular communication with their assigned Personnel Security Specialist throughout the process.

Financial Suitability Requirement:

This position requires a review of the applicants financial history as part of the personnel security and suitability determination. Applicants must demonstrate financial responsibility maintain good standing with creditors and satisfy all legal financial obligations prior to applying.

Individuals with substantial delinquent or unresolved financial obligations-including but not limited to delinquent federal or state tax liabilities defaulted federal student loans court-ordered fines or fees or child support arrears-may be deemed unsuitable for employment with the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Prior to the appointment candidates must present two valid forms of identification. If one of the documents is a state-issued ID or drivers license it must be REAL ID-compliant.

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 associates degree in respiratory therapy.
For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelors 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.

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).