Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Current permanent employees of VAMC Lebanon, NECPAC, and employees of VISN4 Contracting, OI&T, CBOPC and Veterans Canteen Service located in Lebanon, PA

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Duties include but are not limited to:

• Performs in a hospital setting all ultrasound examinations ranging from the routine to the highly specialized. Performance of the examination requires proper alignment and position of the patient.
• Sets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam. The spectrum of examination performed includes, but is not limited to: abdomen for tumors, stones, cysts, abscesses, hematomas, inflammatory lesions, such as pancreatitis, and malformations of organs and their location.
• Evaluates the abdominal aorta for aneurysm and/or dissection.
• Responsible for obtaining pertinent diagnostic examinations through knowledge of both normal and abnormal human anatomy.
• Performs a wide range of diagnostic abdominal ultrasound examinations to include but not limited to the: liver, gallbladder, pancreas, appendix, spleen, kidneys, bladder, and aorta.
• Performs ultrasound examinations of the female pelvis to include both transabdominal and transvaginal imaging of the vagina, uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and surrounding anatomy.
• Performs noninvasive vascular ultrasound examinations with doppler interrogation of the portal vein, hepatic veins, hepatic artery, IVC, and aorta. Doppler studies of blood flow and from the major organs, this includes imaging of the ovaries and testicles as well as flow studies for TIPS patency.
• Knows and understands the principles of ultrasound and the highly specialized equipment well enough to approve the acceptability of each scan. This includes: preparation and supplies, scanning motions, TCG (Time, Compensated Gain), doppler, doppler color flow, plethysmography, zoom or expansion, hard copy, picture-oriented examination, organ oriented examination and initial interpretation the examination. Interpreting the examination requires identifying normal and pathologic appearances. Pathologic appearance includes: intraluminal echoes that shadow, polyp, carcinoma, thick wall, size, obstructing lesions, common duct stone, tumor, benign structures, texture, solid mass, cystic mass, etc. Initial interpretation will be forwarded by the ultrasound technologist to the radiologist before final interpretation is made.
• Controls technical factors on ultrasound unit which will affect time, gain, amplitude, velocity, frequency, attenuation, absorption, scattering, refraction, and transducers depending on the examination and the anatomy to be imaged.
• Maintains effective control of the ultrasound area by coordinating, planning, organizing and executing the daily work potential to expedite workflow patterns within the departments.
• Receives and identifies patients, explains methods of procedures, assists movement of patients to and from wheelchairs, carts and tables; positions the patient and performs examinations requested.
• Evaluates the nature of critical and emergency procedures and rearranges priorities to accommodate them. Maintains records of patients treated, exams performed, scans taken, etc.
• Supervises and trains rotating ultrasound students and technologists in ultrasound. Performs preventative maintenance as required.
• Troubleshoots equipment used in ultrasound and is able to make minor repairs and /or adjustments. Exercises extreme caution in the handling and safeguarding of all equipment. Must recognize and report major equipment malfunctions within a timely manner to biomedical service representative.
• Assists radiologists and other non-radiologic physicians during ultrasound guided biopsies, drainages, and aspirations.
• Responsible for maintaining adequate supplies and pharmaceuticals used in the department.
• Responsible for ensuring protocol is followed for proper cleaning, disinfecting, and storing of all RME equipment.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 7:00am - 3:30pm Monday-Friday
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000

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.
• 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).
• 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.
• There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels.
• Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities.

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.
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.

Grade Determinations: GS-8

Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided the overall knowledge, skills, and abilities to conduct diagnostic ultrasound examinations in complex and unusual cases. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs at the GS-8 level:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at the GS-8:

1. Ability to perform diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body, including, but not limited to, the abdomen, pelvis, transvaginal, chest, small parts, thyroid, breast, and scrotum.
2. Ability to perform vascular studies such as vertebral, renal artery, aortic aneurysm, portal-systemic shunts, etc.
3. Ability to assist radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location, depth, and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled.
4. Ability to assist in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations.

Grade Determinations: GS-9

Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, 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 in order 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. KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level. KSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignment.

1. 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.
*2. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
*4. Ability to manage and supervise employees.
*5. Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training.

Preferred Experience: Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable. Management Prefers Applicants that are Registered Ultrasound Technologist (RDMS) and/or have a certification by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS), and/or American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT-S).

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.