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Health Technician

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

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to assist in the care and treatment of surgical patients and administer emergent care to patients in both the Perioperative (Peri-op)/Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). The Health Technician (Perioperative) reports to the PACU Nurse Manager. Receives guidance from Nursing Service in general, and specifically from the assigned Operating Room (OR) Charge Nurses, for daily work assignments, including both supervised and unsupervised activities/duties.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
07/01/2024 to 07/09/2024
Salary
$49,249 to - $64,026 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
North Chicago, IL
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
CAZP-12463123-24-LGA
Control number
798035400

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.

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Duties

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The Duties are described below but not limited to:

Patient Care Duties (60%)The Health Technician (Perioperative) is responsible for verifying patient identity, performing observation based screening, collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel. This involves utilizing appropriate interview skills to obtain patient health/medication history, and information about health-related illnesses. Interacts in a courteous/respectful manner with interdisciplinary healthcare team, patients, and families. Participates in the admission of patients by obtaining information, orienting patients to the unit and treatment team, obtaining vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and respirations, weight, height and/or orthostatic vital signs), Accu-Checks blood sugars/glucose monitoring, documenting in the Electronic Health Record (EHR), and reporting any vital signs outside of normal range to the appropriate licensed staff member. Checks patients and their belongings for hazardous items. Inventories patient belongings with the patient and/or family and properly documents the inventory before surgery and prior to discharge. Cleans and prepares patients for surgical procedures. Cleans the rooms and the equipment used for preparing patients for surgical procedures. Cleans and restocks rooms used for patient care. Cleans general pre-op/PACU spaces to include, but not limited to, countertops, doorknobs, etc. Observes/notes conditions that may be critical prior to and post surgeries and notifies nurse and/or health care provider of any situations requiring emergency assistance/immediate attention. After being adequately trained and certified by a PACU nurse, the Health Technician (Perioperative) may perform sterile procedures to include, but not limited to urinary and intravenous catheterization, tracheostomy care, IV insertion/removal, irrigating and dressing wounds, etc. Applies and removes simple sterile and non-sterile dressings, slings, ace bandages, and elastic stockings. Applies non-sterile hot/cold compresses, packs, and soaks; and utilizes equipment that provides heating or cooling as directed by provider. Complies with infection control guidelines and practices universal precautions/hand hygiene. Complies with DoD and Navy directives applicable to infection control, hand hygiene, and needle stick prevention.

Administrative Duties (40%)The incumbent provides administrative support for a wide variety of administrative tasks associated with maintaining and supporting the work performed within the Perioperative (Pre-op)/Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) to include, assisting with patient reception and the rooming of patients as needed, updating the patient board, answering telephones, answering routine inquiries, and completing paperwork. Participates in team discussions regarding surgical procedures; pulls sterile consumables for future operating room cases; and ensures all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure. Assists the OR nurses and staff with all surgical equipment/instruments and special requests preoperatively and intra-operatively on all operative procedures. Interacts in a courteous/respectful manner with interdisciplinary healthcare team, patients, and families. Monitors the cleanliness and physical condition of all equipment. Monitors the general cleanliness of the sterile supply core. Performs weekly dusting of the consumable supply shelves. Reports nonworking equipment to appropriate personnel (staff RN/Charge RN); monitors out-dates and par levels of non-sterile and sterile supplies in anticipation of daily caseload; ensures supplies on hand do not exceed expiration dates; and replenishes those that are outdated. Maintains equipment, identifying malfunctions; conducts first echelon maintenance as needed; coordinates with medical maintenance and/or equipment representatives regarding the problems. Keeps abreast of and compliant with all equipment preventive maintenance cycles. Provides justification to leadership pertaining to request for replacement of outdated equipment by identifying the outdated equipment, gathering relevant information on the equipment, or requesting equipment for the work area.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 9:00am- 5:30pm
Retention Incentive: May be authorized after 90 days in position as a HealthTech series 0640
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Perioperative)/PD23547A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
  • 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
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details.
  • 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/09/2024.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS 5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to:
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Communication and interpersonal relations, including the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customer.
  • Maintenance of confidentiality of patient/employee information, electronic and print.
  • The medical center performance improvement program.
  • How to work and function in the medical center in a safe manner, including infection control and the correct operation of equipment.
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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.



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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal/VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:

  • Diagnostic Medical Testing
  • Patient Care
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence


USA Hire Assessments include a cut score based on the minimum level of required proficiency in these critical general competencies. You must meet or exceed the cut score to be considered. You will not be considered for the position if you score below the cut score or fail to complete the assessment.

Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

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.

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