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Health Technician (Spinal Cord Injury)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration - Nursing, Spinal Cord Injury and Rehab

Summary

The Long Beach VA Medical Center is searching for a Health Technician (HT) to serve within the Nursing, Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and Rehab service.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
03/13/2026 to 03/23/2026
Salary
$52,938 to - $68,819 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Long Beach, CA
1 vacancy
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
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
CBSX-12911399-26-JOT
Control number
861180200

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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Duties include but are not limited to:

  • Organize work by reading and routing incoming correspondence, collecting information, and initiating telecommunication.
  • Provided courteous phone coverage and ensure telephone calls, office visitors, and patient are screened and referred to appropriate individuals in a timely manner.
  • Enter and follows up on work orders for broken or malfunctioning equipment and facility maintenance request in a timely manner.
  • Performs daily rounds to ensure routine equipment such as vital sign machines, call lights, blanket warmers, gurneys are operable and contain all components and reports discrepancies immediately.
  • Coordinate transportation with caregivers, patients, and staff and transportation companies as needed
  • Participates in weekly Environment of Care (EOC) rounds to ensure Joint Commission Standards are met on the ward.
  • Orders office supplies.
  • Performs timekeeper duties for nursing wards, which includes following up on exceptions and immediate reporting of any leave and pay issue with background information to the Nurse Manager for resolution.
  • On admission, discharge, or transfer, verifies and assures that the record of the patient treatment is administratively complete. Performs quality assurance monitoring using appropriate tools regarding the completion and contents of the patient record.
  • Reviews the patient record, collecting and updating insurance information, patient demographic and next-of-kin information, emergency information, and verifying accuracy
  • Provides patient, caregiver and family teaching in relation to unit orientation of routines
  • Maintains all patients' records, either electronic or paper, according to regulation, ensuring each entry contains proper patient and health care identification
  • Organize patient chart filing cabinet and create an adequate number of blank charts for incoming off tour weekend patient admissions
  • Responsible for creation and destruction of patient wrist bands in accordance with privacy guidelines.
  • Coordinates inpatient and post hospital appointments as needed.
  • Handling and destruction of patient information using best business practices, and compliance with HIPAA and healthcare industry ethics.
  • Responding to call lights by answering patient requests and/or following up to ensure nursing personnel are informed to meet patient needs.
  • Assigns nurse call phone at the beginning of each shift and updates the Bed Management System to respond to assignments of the phones.
  • Assist with Bed Management System by updating patient's assigned bed accurately, complete all patient status comments, assign staff name and provide bed cleaning comments in a timely manner.
  • Assists in space utilization and readiness on inpatient wards by checking for cleanliness, rotation of supplies and equipment, follow up of equipment repairs or turn-in and safety precautions.
  • Creates adequate number of patient labels for lab and other inter-department use.
  • Solid knowledge of multiple electronic systems and current computer technology to include VISTA application, CPRS, Microsoft Suite applications, scanning, faxing, printers and copiers.
  • Proactively assist patients, caregivers and families in completing patient satisfaction complaints and ensuring forms are delivered timely to Nurse Manager/Designee for processing.
  • Provides assistance with delivery of laboratory specimens or other items to support the unit.
  • Report linen, food service or any operational delays to Nurse Manager/Designee in a timely manner.
  • Assists the Nurse Manager/Designee in reviewing various reports such as work orders and supply orders.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 4 pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Spinal Cord Injury)/PD13641-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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
  • 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)
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 03/23/2026.

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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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 as described below:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of therapeutic, rehabilitative, and preventive care for patients in various states of dependency; knowledge of interpersonal skills to give reassurances to the patient, encourage him to receive the proper treatment and help cope with physical conditions; Knowledge and understanding of the neurophysiology of the autonomic nervous system and the functioning of the upper motor neuron and lower motor neuron lesion with the corresponding intestinal and bladder dysfunction; Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the urinary system; Knowledge of emergency cardiac arrest procedures; Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the care plan and recovery; Ability to properly use equipment, materials and supplies in diagnostic and treatment procedures.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
  • Diagnostic Medical Testing
  • Patient Care
  • Technical Competence


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: The physical and mental status of the Health Technician should enable them to perform all their duties under normal and emergent conditions. The evaluation of an individual's ability to perform efficiently and without hazard to self of others will encompass a composite consideration of physical, mental, and emotional ability as related to realistic requirements for the duties and responsibilities to be assumed (VA 5019, Part II, Appendix A 4/15/2002). Duties regularly require utilizing safe patient handling devices in lifting and positioning patients, most bariatric or unable to assist. There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, and pulling.

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.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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.

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

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced 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/.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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:

  • Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
  • Diagnostic Medical Testing
  • Patient Care
  • 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.

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.

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.

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