Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to all U.S. Citizens. First consideration will be given to employees of Bay Pines VA Healthcare System. ***See "Requirements" section below for experience required to qualify.***

Videos

***See "Requirements" section below for experience required to qualify.***

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) supports the following activities:

1. Receipt of used, soiled or contaminated reusable medical devices, including surgical instruments.
2. Proper disassembly, cleaning and decontamination of reusable medical devices, including surgical instruments.
3. Preparation and accurate assembly, packaging and sterilization/disinfection indicator placement for reusable medical devices, including surgical instruments.
4. Sterilization and or high-level disinfection of reusable medical devices, including surgical instruments.
5. Accurate assembly and monitoring of case carts.
6. Delivery of reusable medical devices, including surgical instruments to various areas such as the operating room, dental, and clinics.
7. Monitoring and documentation of proper conditions for SPS activities including temperature and humidity monitoring and proper air flow.
8. Monitoring of package integrity and sterilization/disinfection indicators.
9. Maintenance of a clean, properly stocked and orderly environment.

Work Schedule:
Midnight Shift: 11:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. with on-call rotations to cover holiday and weekends, and with flexibility to alternate shifts as needed.

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.

Experience and/or Education:
(1) Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work;
OR
(2) Education: One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position;
OR
(3) Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Certification: None.

English Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English.

Grade Requirements:

Creditable Experience:
(1) Knowledge of Current Medical Supply Technician Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with Medical Supply Technician (MST)responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MST.
(2) Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MST experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.
(3) Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MST employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.

Preferred Experience/Education/Certification:

• 3 or more years' experience in sterile processing at an intermediate or higher complexity level facility.
• 3 or more years' experience as a surgical technician position which included reprocessing duties.
• 3 or more years' experience with reprocessing flexible endoscopes and other high level disinfected reusable medical devices.
• CRCST, CER, or CRMST highly desired.

Grade Determinations: GS-06 (Full Performance Level)
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05). Experience at the GS-05 level includes, but is not limited to: Experience removing soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing. Inspect packages for indication of proper sterilization, assemble basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room. Prepare, load and operate sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor; prepare operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
In addition to the experience above, the GS-06 qualified candidate MUST demonstrate the following KSAs:
1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

Assignment. This is the full performance level for the occupation. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well. Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method, such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer instructions. Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.

References: VA Handbook 5005/83 Part II Appendix G47 Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-06.

Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a health care setting, with exposure to: inside and outside work, excessive heat, excessive humidity, excessive noise, intermittent and constant, use of solvents, walking or standing on slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working around machinery with moving parts, working around moving objects or vehicles, unusual fatigue factors (repetitive motions), working with hands in water, working closely with others, working alone, and working protracted or irregular hours. Routinely requires heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over), heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over), straight pulling and pushing (up to 8 hrs.), walking (8 hrs.), standing (8 hrs.), kneeling (8 hrs.), repeated bending (8 hrs.), both legs required, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4, far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20, depth perception, ability to distinguish colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing aid permitted, and ability to operate transportation equipment.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: 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.