Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. First area of consideration is current, permanent employees of the Minneapolis, MN VA Health Care System to include its CBOCS, and, Veterans of the Canteen Service. Second area of consideration is employees of other facilities within the Department of Veterans Affairs. The public and other current, permanent federal employees should apply to: CBSY-12886400-26-AMB

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This occupational series may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). Repayment is limited to $40,000 annually, up to $100,000 in lifetime awards. Participants must sign a three-year service agreement and maintain an acceptable level of performance to remain eligible for this program. Contact VHAV23SLRP@va.gov for more information.

Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• DRT performs duties in Diagnostic Section and CT Section. Candidates at the grade level are to be qualified to provide services in specialized areas of radiologic technology and/or CT/General radiologic technology services.
• Receives/Interpret/Performs Exam Requests- Receives written requests or instructions for procedures. Employee understands and carries out the requests made by physicians or seeks assistance from the supervisor or lead tech when an uncommon, unique, or new procedure is required, or if clarification of the request is needed. Registers, edits or cancels exams as needed. Performs relevant clerical duties as they relate to patient care within the section. Independently performs all routine and specialized radiographic examinations of head, spine, trunk, G.I. track, urological system, and extremities for diagnosis of illness or injuries. Maintains computer records of patients and procedures used as required.
• Patient care- Secures the confidence and cooperation of patients during procedures. Independently explains procedures, positions the patient for optimal results, and cushions and shields patients as appropriate. Varies the procedure or positions to adjust for patients' medical condition, and body habitus. Independently explains procedures and positions patients for very difficult procedures. Administers contrast materials orally, by enema, or in some circumstances, intravenously under the supervision of a Radiologist, or other Physician, or medical officer.
• Operates Radiology Equipment - Operates direct radiography (DR) equipment as well as portable, fluoscopic, and diagnostic operating room equipment. Performs procedures on the Units, the Emergency Department and in the Operating Rooms with portable x-ray machines, and portable fluoroscopic C-arm machines and O-arms.
• Radiation safety practices- Practices radiation safety to reduce exposure to patients, staff and self. Analyzes the patient needs, determines, and selects the technical factors for optimum diagnostic quality, sets the controls and operates equipment. Determines technical factors (i.e., calculates the correct exposure factors of time, distance, kilovoltage, and milliamperage) based on the body part and the individual patient factors. Sets the controls and operate equipment ensuring that the portion of the specified body received the correct calculated exposure necessary for high quality images, but at the lowest possible exposure to the patient. (ALARA)
• Performs daily maintenance of head and body phantoms, such as changing water, cleaning and removing air bubbles, etc.
• Departmental maintenance- Maintains supplies needed to perform all examinations in the assigned room or area. Cleans and sterilizes equipment and the area after each use and in preparation of the next procedure to be performed. Performs required routine maintenance and recognizes and reports malfunctioning equipment to lead tech/supervisor and places repair request to Bio Med to
  ensure repair.
• Clerical duties- Captures direct radiographic (DR) radiographs, and applies algorithm, configures the image, and verifies patient information before transmitting them to the picture archive system (PACS). Register patients for examinations and updates status as necessary. Performs relevant clerical duties as they relate to patient care within the section. Maintains computer records of patients and procedures used as required. Review new developments in the field and make recommendations to the Lead Tech, Supervisors and Manager of the unit to adopt those which would improve the operations of the Diagnostic Radiology section.
• Contrast administration- Prepares oral and injectable contrast and administers the contrast under the directions of the Radiologist.
• Maintenance- Performs daily maintenance of head and body phantoms, such as changing water, cleaning and removing air bubbles, etc.

Work Schedule: Monday-Thursday 12:00 am (midnight) to 8:00am, Every other Saturday and Sunday12:00 am (Midnight) to 8:00 am, overtime, holidays
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: MAY BE Authorized for Highly Qualified Candidates
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

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. All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, Radiography (ARRT) (R). Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), [or Mammography (M) duties performed independently, as applicable]. Advanced certification indicates that the incumbent [can operate independently] and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination. [In modalities that require advanced certification, to support their continued development, technologists who do not possess an advanced certification may be provided on the job training with oversight from a certified radiologic technologist.]
• Education. Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program, evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from [other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE).]
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• English Language Proficiency. DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).

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: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:

Specialized Assignments:

General Radiologic Technology (R). DRTs perform procedures and examinations in hospitals or clinics under the direction of radiologists and other medical officers. The objective of the examinations and procedures is to produce radiographic studies that are used in medical diagnosis and interpreted by medical officers to locate injuries, foreign bodies, pathological conditions, or lesions within the body. They prepare and administer contrast media and medications in accordance with State and Federal regulations. All DRTs must be knowledgeable in computerized [and digital radiography (CR/DR),] and picture archiving and communications systems (PACS).

Computed Tomography (CT). This specialty modality requires specific knowledge of cross sectional human anatomy and its application in spiral, and/or, multi-slice computer tomography, inclusive of 3-D reconstruction scans, including drainages, biopsies, and peripheral vascular examinations. The technologist requires specific knowledge and training in the location, appearance, and function of the various major and minor systems susceptible to radiological illumination; to interpret the examination request accurately; to understand the functioning and inter-relationship of the various organs; to use the methods and techniques which will identify organs appearing on the digital display monitor, or on film, and the various stages of the examination to judge the acceptability of the image and/or scan for diagnostic use and to emphasize the aspects of interest to the physician. [DRT assignments that include performance of independent duties in this subspecialty require advanced ARRT certification.]

Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist, GS-9

Employees at this level are fully functional as an advanced DRT and carry out their assigned tasks independently. DRTs at this level may have varying assignments including special and complex imaging procedures beyond the full performance level, clinical instruction, and basic QM type duties within the program. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level.

• Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-8), directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):
  • *Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures.
  • Knowledge of techniques for gathering relevant information from the medical record, significant others, and health care providers.
  • *Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure.
  • Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography.
  • Knowledge of physical assessment, aseptic techniques, intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions.
  • Knowledge of pre-procedural, procedural, and post-procedural care of patients.

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

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

Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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.