Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. All qualified candidates encouraged to apply. Open to U.S. Citizens but non-citizens may be appointed when it's not possible to recruit qualified citizens.

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Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Interpret requests or instructions from radiologists or medical officers.
• Prepare room, equipment and materials needed for patient procedures.
• Properly verifies the patient's identity using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification; follows VHA directives and policies.
• Explain procedures to patients in a manner that will gain cooperation, understanding, and allay apprehension.
• Transfer patients from stretcher or wheelchair to sonographer exam table utilizing safe patient handling techniques; ergonomic methods and devices.
• Positions the patient for desired results, utilizing positioning cushions and privacy shields as appropriate.
• Performs diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body, including, but not limited to the abdomen, neck, chest, extremities, pelvis and retroperitoneal space, for the purpose of acquiring high quality examinations that assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patient medical disorders.
• Performs Intra-Operative Ultrasound examinations to assist the Interventional Radiologists in tumor ablation procedures in a sterile surgical environment.
• Sets up equipment, makes multiple simultaneous settings and adjustments in operation of the equipment, and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam, insuring accurate results.
• Obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic health record, requisition, and interviewing the patient and/or family.
• Properly selects patient's information from the HIS/RIS list on the workstation, verify patient information prior to scanning. Annotations are made, correct orientation of the image, configures the image before transmitting to PACS.
• Maintain a neat and clean work area, always including desks and countertops. Ensuring supplies within assigned work area are properly supplied/stocked so that examinations are not delayed due to lack of necessary equipment and supplies. Assist in maintaining inventory of supplies and notify supervisor of low level of supplies in a timely manner.
• Maintain electronic records of patient exams assuring that the images acquired are transferred into the patient record and perform clerical duties as related to patient care as it pertains to release of information and image disc creation.
• Assists the Interventional Radiologist in the performance of cyst punctures, aspiration biopsies, and catheter placements for the purpose of diagnostic treatment using ultrasound techniques. This requires the use of surgical sterile techniques, syringes, needles, contrast, etc.
• Explain procedure, answer questions relating to the procedure, position patient for all necessary views and tend to their comfort for the duration of the procedure. Requires the exercise of judgement to assess and respond to patient's needs prior to, during, and after the procedure.
• Distributes ultrasound examinations and related information to the radiologist responsible for the interpretation of the exams.
• Maintains competency and thorough knowledge of the processes for Critical, Semi-Critical, and Non-Critical Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) that document the process and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and preparation of RME and follow established procedures for cleaning, disinfection, sterilization and preparation of RME and follow established procedures for all RME.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, Days (Schedules are determined by immediate supervisor.)
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
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 #: 000000
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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.
• English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English
• Grade Determination: GS-9

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.

In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 full performance level, positions at this grade may be lead, supervisory, or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments.

Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-8), which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be specialized experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required to provide all aspects of diagnostic ultrasonography services. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques 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.
*2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
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).

Certification (Preferred, not required): Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or by the American
Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support
(BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

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.

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.