Clarification from the agency

Open to all qualified U.S Citizens.

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The Medical Supply Technician (MST) functions in all areas of the instrumentation and delivery process. Duties include but are not limited to:

Decontamination

• Collects, receives, cleans, and decontaminates the full range of instruments, supplies and equipment used in the medical center's wards/patient care units, dental clinic and special procedure units.
• Selects the appropriate methods and procedures for removing gross soil (contamination).
• Sorts all items by method of processing and inspects items for damage prior to processing, disassembles for cleaning.
• Operates, maintains and adjusts distinct types of processing equipment.
• Changes and resets timers and selects different parameter requirements on decontamination cycles.
• Identifies and properly disposes of individual use items.
• Adheres to and/or monitors both Facility and SPS Infection Controls Guidelines.
• Responsible for determining the proper techniques for pick-up, transportation, cleaning and disinfecting of contaminated items.
• Brings all infection control issues/problems to the attention of the responsible supervisor.
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.
• Disassembles medical equipment as necessary for disinfection, including complex items.
• The incumbent disassembles, processes and reassembles complex life-supporting equipment.
• Incumbent disassembles a full range of instruments, trays / sets used in the procedure rooms and special procedure areas.

Preparation

• Incumbent assembles a full range of instrument trays/sets for wards, clinics, and special procedures units.
• Inspects instruments for cleanliness, damage, and tested for proper function before reassembling.
• Trays/sets are assembled as designed by local established procedures and by the requirements.
• Incumbent selects the appropriate method of sterilization according to manufacture instructions, design constraints and compatibility of the item with the sterilizing agent.
• Incumbent will place materials on sterilizer cart for terminal sterilization in accordance with the sterilization method and equipment being used.
• Regularly performs quality control tests on all sterilization equipment such as Biological monitoring, Bowie Dick and chemical indicators.
• Performs quality assurance inspections on material terminally sterilized prior to storage.
• Verifies and signs sterilizer records after each cycle before any item is removed from the sterilizer.
• Maintains daily documentation of biological monitoring and submits the monthly reports to the Infection Control Committee.
• Serves as a second review for assembled instrument sets to ensure accuracy.

Distribution

• Assembles and loads delivery carts according to schedules and delivers instrumentation to units in a safe, yet timely manner.
• Fills special and emergency request for instrumentation as applicable.
• Advises medical personnel on availability of instrumentation, sterile items, possible substitutes and efficient use of SPS specific equipment.
• Routinely replenishes supply shelves in SPS and notifies supervisor of depleting inventory or increased usage of supplies.
• Keeps record of supplies and equipment used and notifies supervisor of unusual requests or instrumentation usage patterns.
• Routinely inventories SPS supplies and equipment, using an automated system. Keeps records and determines reordering needs.
• Completes all logs and records involved with the processing of medical items and trays, utilizing equipment call-in sheets, equipment logs, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 3:00pm - 11:30pm with rotating on call weekends.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Title/Functional Statement # 91163-A, 91164-A, 91154-A ,91166-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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
• Proficient in oral and written English
• 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
• 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)

Qualifications

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.
• English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.
• Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or
• 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
• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

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).

Grade Determinations:

GS-03 (Entry Level)
Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements

GS-04 (Developmental Level)
Experience. Six months of experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; OR;
Education. Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation.

NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technician, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialist, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed forces, the U.S. Maritime Service or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the the KSAs below:

1. Knowledge of universal precaution for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

GS-05 (Developmental Level)
Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or
Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level)
Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the 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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/76, Part II, Appendix G47.

Preferred Experience: One year of experience in sterile processing and endoscopic reprocessing. Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Certification or Certification Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution Certification (CBSPD) preferred.

Physical Requirements: The position requires long periods of standing while processing supplies with:

1. Recurring lifting up to 50 pounds, in the process of soiled instrumentation pick-up, receiving, and issuing items. The employee regularly pushes loaded carts and carriers aligning the tracts leading to the sterilizer and washers.
2. Employee can be required to push carts up to 600 pounds on/off elevators and to/from stock storage areas. Requires considerable stooping and bending. Uses a computer for data entry and instrument tracking.
3. Conducting inventories of the supply storage areas will result in a high level of physical demands (bending, walking, stooping, prolonged standing, reaching, climbing, pushing, pulling, noise, lifting and exposure to varying temperature variations.

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.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or 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.

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.

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/.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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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.