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Critical Care Respiratory Therapist (Registered)

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Critical Care Medicine Department (CCMD)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Critical Care Therapy and Respiratory Care Section of the Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center. This section is currently seeking a few exceptionally talented Registered Respiratory Therapists to add to their team. Ensure to describe your experience in your resume.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open date: 05/22/2024
Closed date: 05/31/2024
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Work site options
Telework eligible
No
Remote job
No
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Salary
$70,131 - $91,173 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 8
Promotion potential
9
Pay scale and grade determines the salary of the job.
Work schedule
Full-time
Travel Required
Not required
Appointment type
Permanent
Occupations and job series
Supervisory status
No
Federal service type
This job is in the Competitive Service
Drug test
No
Security clearance
Other
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Jobs require a background check and some require a security clearance. The type depends on the job.
Background check type
Announcement number
NIH-CC-DE-24-12395917
Control number
792289700

Duties

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  • Interpreting physician orders, providing specialized therapy to critically ill patients that usually require adaptation of established technical procedures.
  • Participating with the physician in planning, instituting, evaluating and devising a patient care plan for pulmonary hygiene.
  • Assisting the physician in determining therapeutic objectives/goals of respiratory treatments/therapy and evaluating the physician order for appropriateness and adjusts the order if necessary.
  • Administering various specialized modes of ventilation to patients with endotracheal tubes and tracheotomies and other complex medical problems requiring frequent adjustments in ventilator parameters based on patient response.
  • Observing the patient closely during treatments/procedures, and, as required, takes blood pressure, pulse, obtains blood gas samples reporting vital signs and obvious changes in patient condition.
  • Processing specimens using equipment, instruments, or techniques that are necessary to prepare them for specific analysis (pH, hematocrit, oxygen saturations, etc.).
  • Assisting in the examination and observation of patients by performing such duties as taking diagnostic histories, conducting physical examinations, and performing diagnostic screening tests, i.e., ventilatory mechanics and obtaining blood gases.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • The work requires standing and walking for prolonged periods of time.
  • The therapist must frequently bend, reach, stoop and stretch to set up and take apart equipment, position patients, and push/pull moderately heavy objects.
  • Work requires dexterity to perform intricate procedures in confined areas.
  • Frequent use of protective clothing is required to prevent disease, spread of infection and penetration of radiation from use of x-ray devices at the bedside during procedures on patients.
  • Selectee may be subject to a medical surveillance program due to the potential exposure to hazardous environments or substances.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection.
  • Therapist regularly work in an intensive care unit with patients who have severe respiratory and other medical problems. There is recurring exposure to contagious diseases and hazardous gases.
  • This position has on-call or call-back requirements.
  • This position requires weekend hours, night shifts, regular or rotational shifts, holiday hours.
  • This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee.
  • If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination, provide evidence of immunization, and be free from communicable diseases.

Qualifications

You qualify at the GS-08 level, if you meet one of the following basic qualification requirements:

One year of general experience equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service that demonstrates your ability to independently perform the following types of tasks: administering complex respiratory therapy treatment/procedures (e.g. performing arterial puncture, venipuncture, nasotracheal or orotracheal suctioning, and delivering Nitric Oxide and Heliox therapy; performing respiratory therapy ventilation procedures, including endotracheal intubation, tracheal lavage, and tracheotomy care; assessing the respiratory status of patients using data acquired through physical observation and clinical analysis of blood gas data, chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered; and making recommendations to physicians regarding changes in treatment.

OR

You must have successfully completed two years of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position.

OR

A combination of post baccalaureate education and experience that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.

Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Selective Factor(s): In order to meet minimum qualification requirements you must demonstrate possession of the selective factor(s) of this position. Selective factor(s) include(s): You must possess the required certificate as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RPT) from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and a registry number, or a certificate from another body which the NBRC recognizes as its credentialing equivalent.

Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12395917

Education

If you qualify based on education in lieu of specialized 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 packages. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer. Click here for information on Foreign Education.

Additional information

NOTE: Salary listed does not include weekend, holiday and night pay shift differential. Shift Differential for employees who perform work during regularly scheduled hours between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. shall receive 10 percent of basic pay for those hours. Premium pay equal to 25 percent of the employee's basic hourly rate of pay is given for hours worked between midnight Friday or midnight Sunday. Employees who are required to perform regularly scheduled non-overtime work on a designated holiday shall receive pay at the rate of two times their hourly rate for actual hours worked on their tour, but not less than at least two hours.

  • This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
  • If selected, you must pass a pre-employment medical examination.
  • This position requires weekend hours, night shifts, regular or rotational shifts, holiday hours.
  • This position has on-call or call-back requirements.
  • Therapist regularly works in an intensive care unit with patients who have severe respiratory and other medical problems. There is recurring exposure to contagious disease and hazardous gases.
  • You must be able to lift and move heavy items weighing with or without a reasonable accommodation.
  • The selectee must be able to bend, reach, stretch, stoop, walk, and stand with or without a reasonable accommodation.
  • You must be able to stand for prolonged periods.
  • We may make additional selections for similar positions within the commuting area(s) of the locations listed through this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s).
  • A one-year probationary period may be required upon selection/placement.
  • PHS Commissioned Officers interested in performing the duties of this position within the Commissioned Corps should apply online to this announcement to receive consideration
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Visit our Applicant FAQs page for helpful information on the application process.
  • Visit our Total Compensation page and this sample for a detailed look into the benefits, awards, leave, retirement, and other incentives employees may receive as part of a rewarding work environment.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):

  • 1. Knowledge of the principles, procedures and techniques of respiratory therapy and treatments.
  • 2. Ability to perform administrative and operational support functions in a laboratory.
  • 3. Skill in performing complex respiratory procedures.
  • 4. Ability to train others.


If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position, your application and responses to the online questionnaire will be evaluated under Category Rating and selection procedures for placement in one of the following categories:
  • Best Qualified - for those who are superior in the evaluation criteria
  • Well Qualified - for those who excel in the evaluation criteria
  • Qualified - for those who only meet the minimum qualification requirements
The Category Rating Process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Applicants determined to be Best Qualified will be referred for further consideration. Preference eligibles in the Best Qualified category are referred before all other applicants.

To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire. Ensure you support your self-ratings by the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as having knowledge of your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin prior to receiving an offer.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 85 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the largest biomedical research funding organization in the world. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. NIH employs approximately 18,000 employees in varied occupations, all supporting research efforts that improve health and save lives. For more information on NIH's mission and goals, and its 27 Institutes and Centers, visit the NIH website.

Virtually explore the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Bethesda campus, learn about scientific research, and get to know NIH community members who are working to help people live longer, healthier lives: https://www.nih.gov/virtual-tour/.

This position is located in the Critical Care Therapy and Respiratory Care Section of the Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center. The Section's purpose, responsibilities, and objectives are to provide a full range of intensive respiratory care services to critically ill patients of the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit and, to a lesser degree, provide routine and basic respiratory care services to inpatients, out patients, and the patients in day hospitals.

Agency contact information

NIH HR Service Desk Branch E
Email
ohrcsdbranchesrvdsk@od.nih.gov
Address
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

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