The health Technician will be assigned to the Emergency Department & functions as a very skilled member of the nursing care team & effectively assumes all of the patient care activities assigned. The Health Technician exercises a high degree of initiative and resourcefulness in critical situations and in relieving the nurse of the non-profession aspects of the work. The Health Technician will also participate in change of shift reporting, walking rounds & team conferences. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. OR, Education and Training For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. Grade Requirement -You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-5 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-4 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Performing or assisting triage staff with diagnostic procedures including EKGs, venipunctures, and alcohol breathalyzer used to diagnose medical conditions. Operates, calibrates, and maintains medical instruments or equipment such as accu-check machines, crash carts and oxygen tanks used to assist with or perform procedures. Performs procedures such as collection of blood samples or other fluid samples, application of sterile dressings to wounds, irrigations, or similar patient care. Performs direct patient care including personal hygiene, physical comfort, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, safety, etc. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-5 level. Four-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, if required. The applicant must have successfully completed post-high school education is qualifying for grades GS-3 through GS-5. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. 1 year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. At grades GS-4 and above, a portion of the education is usually directly related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of related courses are provided in the individual occupational requirements where applicable. However, agencies may require other courses if they are considered to be more related to the position to be filled. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-5 level. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. The combinations described below are those most typical for these positions, i.e., for grades GS-3 through GS-5. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. For GS-5 level positions, only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-5. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. ["Major duties include: Performs or assists triage staff with diagnostic procedures including EKGs, venipunctures, and alcohol breathalyzer used to diagnose medical conditions. Operates and maintains medical instruments and equipment for diagnostic and treatment procedures. During procedures, recognizes abnormalities, collects and records information and informs professional staff of unusual readings or conditions. Operates, calibrates, and maintains medical instruments or equipment such as accu-check machines, crash carts and oxygen tanks used to assist with or perform procedures. Receives and responds to a number of inquiries from patients concerning a variety of medical personnel and administrative matters (Secures patient's confidence and cooperation during procedures. Assists in the performance of or independently performs procedures such as insertion of urinary catheters, intravenous catheters, and naso-gastric tubes, and administration of enemas and breathing treatments as delegated by the RN. Performs a range of diagnostic support duties such as taking, recording, and reporting deviations in vital signs, taking specimens, labeling specimens for the laboratory. Makes gross visual observations and identifies subtle changes in the patient's condition. Uses hot and cold packs, changes sterile dressings, cares for patients, and sets up and gives treatments that require auxiliary equipment. Connects patient to transportation monitors and disconnects them from Spacelab monitoring equipment; sets up portable oxygen tanks. Instructs patients in crutch, walker and or cane use and ensures correct fitting of equipment. Performs procedures such as collection of blood samples or other fluid samples, application of sterile dressings to wounds, irrigations, or similar patient care. Performs direct patient care including personal hygiene, physical comfort, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, safety, etc. Uses software to produce specific printouts for the clinical staff. and assembles patients' records in the CPRS. Performs patient charting using standard medical terminology entering information regarding care rendered, condition and progress. Provides general clerical/administrative support coordination work for the Triage area. Performs a variety of receptionist and record keeping duties, records vital signs and documents in CPRS according to policy. Orders and maintains supplies for the unit. Maintains order in examination rooms. Sets up and maintains sterility of instruments and supplies used to perform tests or procedures in the ER setting. Maintains stock of supplies for unit operations. Work Schedule: Sunday - Saturday, with rotating shifts, holidays and weekends. Shifts will be 11am- 11:30pm, 3:30pm-11:30pm & 11am-7:30pm. This is not a virtual position. Telework is not authorized for this position. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD92168A Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting and carrying (45+ lbs.); Heavy carrying (45+lbs); straight pulling (4 hours); pushing (4 hours); reaching above shoulder; both hands required; walking (8-12hrs); standing (8-12hrs); repeated bending (8-12hrs). This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and must don protective clothing during patient care. The incumbent must be flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual employee health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment."]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
