Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. This announcement is open to current, permanent employees of VA NJ Healthcare System and Current, Permanent Department Veteran Health Administration employees and all United States Citizens.

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The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) Electroencephalography (EEG) will provide a full range of neurodiagnostic duties for the New Jersey Health Care System located at the East Orange VA medical center in East Orange, New Jersey. (VISN 2) The MIT will work independently as well as directly with the neurology service chief, staff physicians, residents, and fellows to assist in the operation of the neurodiagnostic lab following JCAHO standards.
The MIT (EEG) duties include:
- Independently performs EEGs in standard outpatient and inpatient complex environments such as intensive care units and at the patient's bedside.
- Independently performs standard Long-Term Monitoring (LTM) These includes: 10/20 and modified 10/10 electrode placement
- Independently performs Evoked Potential (EP) studies: Visual Evoked Potential (VEP), Auditory Evoked Potential (AEP), and Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP)
- Independently performs Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS) (per laboratory protocols) on various nerves at appropriate locations and intensities as indicated by the medical history and symptoms.

Functions:
Equipment:
- Independently operates a variety of neurodiagnostic equipment to administer standard diagnostic treatment during procedures.
- Assists in forecasting new equipment and supply needs for the department.
Medical Terminology, Disease and Anatomy:
- Understands medical terminology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuroradiology and how it relates to the neurodiagnostic testing being performed.
- Knowledge of acute neurologic disorders and their effects on organs and methods of treatment.
Testing:
- Able to deal with more complex or difficult patients.
- Follows established laboratory protocols in performing EEG/LTM, EPs and NCS/EMG.
- Utilizes the 10/20 and 10/10 modified method of electrode application during EEG/LTM.
- Recognizes the various biologic and non-biologic (artifacts) EEG, EP and NCS/EMG waveforms.
- Performs activation procedures during the EEG's and knows the contraindications to performing these actions.
Patient Safety:
- Understands the typical patient reaction to the neurodiagnostic procedure being performed and know signs of patient distress.
- Understands electrical safety and recognize unsafe recording equipment and environments.
- Performs the proper corrective actions to ensure an electrically safe recording often in hostile environments
Communications:
- Interacts with other healthcare professionals to discuss the indications, value, possible outcomes, and limitations of testing.
- Communicates both orally and in writing with patients, visitors, non-healthcare and a variety of healthcare professionals.
- Communicates effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
- Utilizes the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) and CPRS to access patient information, receive memoranda, and send and receive work related e-mail.
Other duties assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 08:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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: Availalbe
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 13046-F
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 identification 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

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: Per VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j: No person will be appointed under authority of 38 U.S.C., chapter 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English.
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.
• Certification: No certification or registration is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications. Additionally, ABRET certification is desired but not required,

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:
Basic Developmental Level GS-04
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 position to be filled. Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of basic medical terminology.
2. Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, and settings of the equipment to be used.
3. Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress.
4. Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted.
5. Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
OR,
Education. Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an 6 associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation.
GS-5
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 position to be filled. This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions.
2. Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment.
3. Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities.
4. Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures.
5. Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine.
OR,
Education. Successful completion of [4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, or] a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions.

GS-06 Medical Instrument Technician (Electroencephalography)
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.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Knowledge of basic medical terminology, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and EEG interpretation.
2. Ability to position patients for the examination or treatment including using standard alternate positions for patient with common physical disabilities.
3. Ability to operate the appropriate EEG equipment to administer routine, standardized diagnostic or treatment procedures.
4. Knowledge of normal and abnormal results to recognize and report obvious abnormalities during procedures.
5. Knowledge of universal precautions and basic sterilization methods to clean instruments to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
6. Knowledge of EEG and peripheral equipment to conduct routine maintenance and adjustment checks.

GS-07 Medical Instrument Technician (Electroencephalography)
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 positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized electroencephalography examinations.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Ability to perform more complex electroencephalography studies such as evoked potential (visual, auditory, somatosensory) and transcranial Doppler studies.
2. Knowledge of medication effects related to electroencephalography studies and clinical situations requiring medication.
3. Knowledge of life threatening or medically emergent testing or patient situations.
4. Ability to recognize artifacts (patient or environmental) and document, eliminate, or take proper measures to monitor the artifact.

GS 08 Medical Instrument Technician (Electroencephalography)
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 knowledge of the more complex procedures, the pharma- cology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
1. Ability to interpret testing data to evaluate critical information for surgeons and other medical staff during testing procedures.
2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology of the nervous system and the ability to understand the relationship of EEG and evoked potential testing in detecting states of disease and health.
3. Knowledge of behavior assessment during seizure attacks in order to insure adequacy of recordings during seizure discharges.
4. Knowledge of a variety of advanced EEG equipment and peripheral equipment such as equipment for brain mapping, video EEG telemetry systems with seizure detection computers, and spike analysis software.
5. Knowledge of anticonvulsant medications and their effects on the EEG as well as other frequently used pharmaceuticals.
6. Ability to adapt neurodiagnostic devices, parameters, and procedures to complex, unusual, and often critical situations.


Preferred Experience: Graduate of Neurophysiology technical school - Assoc degree or equivalent. Certification by ABRET or equivalent - R.EEG T. is desired.

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-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-08.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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.