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 position is also open at the GS-4/5/6/7/8 to current, permanent VHA employees with announcement CBSR-13033598-26-CB. Please ensure you apply to the correct announcement based on your eligibility.

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• The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT), also known as the Polysomnography Technician, functions within the section of the Sleep Medicine, in Medicine Service, and is responsible for diagnostic testing, scoring, initiation & titration of patients with known or suspected sleep disorders.
• Identifies information that must be obtained prior to performing any diagnostic testing and/or therapeutic intervention, including, but not limited to: patient identification, history and review of any previous sleep study or other pertinent information.
• Performs comprehensive patient assessments, including, but not limited to: assessment of heart rate and respiratory rate & effort, oxygen saturation, transcutaneous carbon dioxide measurements and electroencephalogram (EEG).
• Appropriately prepares patient for procedure using standardized aseptic technique.
• Identifies the indications, contraindications and hazards of frequently performed procedures, including: in-lab overnight polysomnography testing & scoring, in-home overnight testing & scoring, MSLT testing, application and titration of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BiPAP) therapies, pulse oximetry & transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring, Inspire therapy, and Actigraphy.
• Identifies critical information that must be communicated during testing and procedures, including the provision of directions/coaching/education at a level that is appropriate to patient understanding.
• Adapts care to patient situation, including desensitization of mask or interface, reassurance, coaching and/or early termination of study, if warranted.
• Identifies and takes proper action when faced with patient situations that require urgent or emergent management, including, but not limited to: falls, fainting, acute mental status change, shortness of breath, hypoxia, chest pain & cardiopulmonary arrest.
• Ensures that all completed studies are scored accurately, uploaded to the appropriate storage site and, if needed, printed and placed in the interpreting MD mailbox.
• Provides patient education related to the purpose of study, the time required and instructions for use (if providing an in-home study device), ensuring adequate teach-back and understanding.
• Ensures a safe patient environment at all times. This includes but is not limited to: keeping patient care areas clean, organized and free from trip hazards, completing disinfection of equipment in-between patients, encouraging the use of walkers or other mobility aids when needed, and making recommendations for urgent care follow up, when indicated.
• Uses a practical knowledge of location and function of major body organs and structures in order to position the patient and/or connect monitoring equipment to take optimum advantage of equipment capabilities.
• Prepares, calibrates, interfaces, and operates all equipment used in polysomnographic procedures.

This position is also open at the GS-4/5/6/7/8 to current, permanent VHA employees with announcement CBSR-13033598-26-CB. Please ensure you apply to the correct announcement based on your eligibility.

Work Schedule: Monday - Thursday, 9:00pm-7:00am; tour of duty could be subject to change based on the needs of the Agency
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 94408-8
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 evaluation.
• 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.
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.
• Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, Registration by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.
• English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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 a knowledge of the more complex procedures as well as knowledge of the uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders. Experience includes, but is not limited to: performing the full range of standard, but complex, polysomnography examinations with responsibility for properly and accurately calibrating all instruments prior to the beginning of the PSG tracing and selection of appropriate electrode montages and sensitivity and filter settings to elicit the best possible tracings. They independently determine the need for CPAP during all night sleep studies for sleep apnea. They may administer nerve conduction velocity tests. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
(1) Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders.
(2) Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form.
(3) Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) and ability to take appropriate action.
(4) Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians.

Assignment: Polysomnographic Technicians at the GS-8 grade level are able to interact fully with the patient and physician to diagnose sleep disorders including those that are uncommon or rare. They are able to conduct full sleep studies including overnight studies and evaluate the relationship of events, sleep stages, and possible medical conditions which influence or result from events occurring during sleep. They anticipate problems likely to occur during the sleep study and prepare for such situations, make changes in established procedures, or recommend alternative courses of action. They are able to mentor lower graded technicians.

Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.

Preferred Experience:

• 5 years as a registered sleep tech/polysomnographer.
• Registration by the Board of Registered Polysomnographic Technologists (BRPT) is highly desirable

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-8.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, puling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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.

You must ensure all duties are detailed in your resume and it clearly shows how you meet the experience and KSA's required of the position/grade level. We cannot make any assumption on duties performed or level of experience based on a job title. All duties must be described under each job entry with the beginning and ending dates of employment (month and year and hours worked per week). If we are unable to determine your qualifications based on the application materials submitted we are unable to refer you for 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.

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.

This occupation is on the FY26 Annual Determination of Staffing Shortages, so Veterans Preference does not apply to US Citizens candidates at this time.