Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to US citizens and other current, permanent Federal employees of other agencies. NOTE: The 2 page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Cincinnati VA Medical Center (CVAMC) is a two division campus located in Cincinnati, OH and Fort Thomas, KY serving 15 counties in Southwest OH, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana with 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Bellevue, KY; Florence, KY; Lawrenceburg, IN; Hamilton, OH; Clermont County, OH, and Georgetown, OH. The CVAMC also supports two off main campus locations in the Cincinnati area via an Eye Center and Mental Health Outreach Community Division.

Major Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• The MIT/Monitor Watcher will provide continuous monitoring of cardiac rate, rhythm, and patterns of conduction at a monitoring station.
• The MIT/Monitor Watcher measures, prints, and interprets rhythms at designated intervals and as needed.
• Recognizes and reports changes in a patient's rhythm that are outside the established parameters.
• The MIT/Monitor Watcher promptly reacts and validates alarm conditions for each patient.
• Monitors patient's vital signs and response to treatment throughout a procedure.
• Recognizes life-threatening situations and notifies the Registered Nurse while simultaneously initiating emergency procedures.
• The MIT/Monitor Watcher maintains patient confidentiality and rights at all times.
• The MIT /Monitor Watcher demonstrates skills in the operation of and monitoring of EKG monitoring systems.
• Monitors patient rhythm and determines proper alarm settings after verifying with the Registered Nurse (RN).
• Monitors for abnormal cardiac rhythms and understands that emergency medical treatment may be needed for such rhythms.
• Recognizes and reports changes in rhythms to the RN.
• Demonstrates knowledge of what default alarm settings are and makes adjustments based on RN guidance.
• The MIT/Monitor Wachter demonstrates how to measure EKG strips, including the PRI, QRS duration, QT, and rate using a minimum of a 6 second strip.
• Verbalizes the need to ensure patient is admitted and placed on a cardiac monitor as soon as they arrive on the unit.
• Demonstrates how to attach cardiac monitor to patient once they arrive on the unit and verbalizes the need to ensure the patient is admitted and placed on a cardiac monitor as soon as they arrive on the floor.
• The MIT/Monitor Watcher obtains, measures, and interprets rhythm strip within the first 30 minutes of patient's arrival to the unit. Marks the date and time that the strip was obtained along with initials and documents rhythm strip.
• Verbalizes the need to repeat this procedure with any rhythm changes.
• Obtains and analyzes rhythm strips within 30 minutes of each four (4) hours and as needed with change in patient rhythm.
• Demonstrates how to admit and discharge patients in the EKG monitoring system.
• Incumbent is responsible for the maintenance of accurate documentation, as well as computer data input for all information gathered to formulate a permanent

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.
• You must pass a pre-employment medical evaluation.
• 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 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:

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

• Upon completion of your probationary period or 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English.

• Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade (GS-06) 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 knowledge of the equipment, standard tests and procedures, and typical readings including arrhythmias and abnormalities.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize, report and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias.
  • Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures.
  • Ability to modify procedures/positions to obtain the correct results with patients with complicating conditions such as amputations, Parkinson's disease, structural defects, and scar tissue.
  • Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians.
  • Ability to conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation.
• Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications.
• Assignment. This represents the full performance level. Medical instrument technicians (EKG) at this level operate and monitor electrocardiographic equipment to perform specialized examinations and studies involving exercise stress testing, ambulatory monitoring of arrhythmias, and indirect carotid pulse tracings on chronic patients. They monitor tracings to identify arrhythmias and when gross abnormalities appear, when to repeat certain procedures, when to stop test procedures, and when to get the immediate attention of a physician. They evaluate test results to determine appropriate machine adjustments and use alternative techniques and procedures when established procedures do not accomplish acceptable results. This includes adapting equipment and accessories to yield the best results during the examination. They edit and select an appropriate sample portion of the tracing for further interpretation by the physician.

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.