Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies and all US Citizens.

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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

Duties include but not limited to:

• Performs outpatient, inpatient or emergent ultrasound studies either in the Ultrasound department or bedside (portable), records and processes images and prepares the processed media for interpretation by the Staff Radiologist. Assures images are properly identified with patient demographics and verifies archiving on PACS.
• Performs renal doppler, hepatic doppler, transplant duplex, mesenteric, TIPS evaluation, AV fistulas, temporal arteries, upper and lower extremities, and other vascular studies (arterial or venous) as deemed by service leadership.
• Assists with percutaneous punctures as directed by the Radiologist.
• Performs studies localizing fluid-filled areas under ultrasound and employs sterile technique as indicated for punctures and biopsies.
• Receives and identifies patients using two (2) patient identifiers, prepares patients for exams and explains procedures, assists movement of patients to and from exam table, positions the patient, sets up and adjusts all imaging equipment including appropriate selection of technical factors, manually maneuvers transducer/probe to perform the exam.
• Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures and rearranges priorities to accommodate them.
• Maintains and stocks all supplies used in the ultrasound work area, ensuring applicable products are within expiration date and stored properly.
• Differentiates artifacts from normal or pathological processes and recognizes electronic equipment limitations.
• Participates in training of new employees in the section in accordance with established procedures and practices.
• Reports equipment malfunctions in a timely manner to the supervisor and Biomedical Engineering, and is competent to enter service requests/work orders, as appropriate.
• Registered in Sonography by either the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS and/or RVT) or the American Registry of Radiology Technologists in ultrasound, ARRT(S). Must maintain BLS.

Work Schedule: Friday-Monday, 7:00am-5:00pm or 8:00am-6:00pm with rotating on-call and holidays
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact vhav07hrd@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 55866F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.
• Certification: Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable.

Grandfathering Provision:
May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:

• Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation.
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.

Grade Determination:
GS-10 Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound) (Above Full Performance Level)

Experience: Inaddition to meeting the basic requirements, to qualify for the GS-10 you must possess at least one (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) which demonstrates the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

GS-09 Knowledge, skills and abilities, that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume:

• Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols that pertain to diagnostic ultrasonography.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and other regulatory requirements
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.

AND

GS-10 Knowledge, skills and abilities, that must be clearly demonstrated in your resume:

• Advanced knowledge of complex and non-standard treatment and examination procedures and techniques.
• Ability to plan and assist in the establishment of a complexity integrated treatment and examination program.
• Ability to evaluate new products and equipment and make recommendations concerning developments which would improve operations.

References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G27

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-10 which is above the full performance level.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion. It may require long periods of standing, walking and/or sitting. It may involve frequent bending, twisting, lifting; positioning patients; and carrying, pushing, or pulling moderately heavy objects.

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, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

RESUME REMINDER: Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:

• Job title
• Duties (be as detailed as possible)
• Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
• Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Area of Consideration - Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order:
1. Current permanent VA employees of the facility and associated CBOCs.
2. All other VA employees.
3. Current permanent Federal employees of other agencies.
4. All other applicants.