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Health Technician

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The New Mexico VA Healthcare System Ambulatory Care Service, is actively recruiting for two (2) Health Technicians. The primary purpose of the position is to provide medical, and administrative support assistance in the Ambulatory Care Service Line.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
08/06/2022 to 08/20/2022
Salary
$40,588 to - $52,765 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Location
Albuquerque, NM
2 vacancies
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSX-11599767-22-DM
Control number
669799100

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

Duties

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The Health Technician performs technical and administrative tasks such as EKGs, bladder ultrasounds, venipuncture, ear irrigation, foley insertion, IV insertion/heparin locks, specimen collection of urine/blood, vital signs including oxygen saturation and abdominal girths, height and weight measures, peak flow, orthostatic blood pressure, visual acuity, CBGs and downloading meters, monofilament foot exam, assistance with clinical reminders, scheduling appointments, enter requests for labs, x-rays into CPRS, enters consult requests for specialty services, schedules appointments with Ancillary Services. Incumbent updates patient demographic information in VISTA as appropriate. Incumbent upholds standards of care outlined by Medical Center and Service policies and procedures. The Health Technician, GS-6 is being established to relieve health care professionals of less technical tests/procedures and clerical/administrative tasks to meet growth in demand for services at the NMVAHCS.

Duties include, but not limited to:

  • Provide medical support care functions, safety in the environment, knowledge of anatomy and physiology, disease process and normal aging, so that the Health Tech can identify abnormal conditions and report these to the health care professional.
  • Effective communication to interview patients and families to gather appropriate/pertinent medical information/history as it relates to clinical reminders for which the Health Tech is within their scope and complexity to complete.
  • Insertion techniques for drainage apparatus; proper storage of blood and body fluid specimens; performance of complex and sterile dressing procedures.
  • Practical knowledge and skill in utilizing equipment to perform the following: EKG, CBG, bladder scan, monofilament foot exams and vital signs and other procedures as outlined above. Ability to operate portable oxygen and suction equipment; lifting and transfer devices.
  • Practical knowledge of standard procedures for providing medical support care following VHA and Medical Center policy and procedures in a safe and effective manner so as to protect patients, team members and self from injury or exposure.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/12810A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • May serve a probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 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: Received written and verbal requests for a variety of difficult exams, entering consults, scheduling exams, entering clinical reminders, entering requests for labs and x-rays; has updated patient demographic information; has set controls, calibrated and operated equipment such as EKG machines, CBG monitors, ABI doppler, bladder scan, spirometer, and vital sign monitors; has performed a variety of routine and difficult diagnostic tests and procedures including CBG, venipuncture, orthostatic blood pressure, oxygen saturation, visual acuity, 12-lead EKG, ABI, PFT, foot exams, and the like.

OR

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have six months of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the (1) year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Transcripts are required.

OR

Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond Graduate Level.

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-06. 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.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Heavy carrying, 45 pounds and over; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Pushing (2 hours); Walking (2 hours); Standing (2 hours); Kneeling (1 hours).

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

COVID-19 Pandemic Expanded Telework Program - Due to COVID-19, VA is currently in an expanded telework posture. If selected, you may be expected to temporarily telework, even if your home is located outside the local commuting area. Once employees are permitted to return to the office, you will be expected to report to the duty station listed on this announcement. Management officials will provide information about returning to the official, pre-pandemic worksite, when applicable. At that time, you may be eligible to request to continue to telework depending upon the terms of your organization's telework policy and the duties of the position.

The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related 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. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

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