Clarification from the agency

This announcement is open to the general public. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. Note: Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.

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The duties and responsibilities of the Vascular Technician including but are not limited to the following:

• Maintains current knowledge and answers questions from team members on procedures, policies, and directives. Instructs new Vascular Technologists in specific tasks and job techniques, as assigned.
• Maintains knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide an optimal teaching environment for students precepted within the Vascular Lab.
• Collects and maintains patient records in the Vascular Lab.
• Enters patient data into the computerized vascular data registry.
• Monitors quality assurance programs.
• Reports to the physician and documents on the patient's record the test results.
• Notifies the Vascular Lab supervisor, on in their absence, the Vascular CRNP or physician of critical situations requiring emergent intervention.
• Makes necessary referrals to appropriate disciplines, i.e., Vascular Surgery, Neurology Clinics or Emergency Department. Understands the various clinics and the distinct patient populations appropriate for each clinic to ensure that clinic slots
• are utilized appropriately and to ensure access metrics are met.
• Exercises good judgment, alertness, and precision in timing according to the needs of the patient and the action of other Vascular Lab personnel.
• Maintain superior clinical skills, allowing for incumbent to sign off staff members on clinical competencies for all vascular studies on an annual basis and/or with any changes in processes/equipment.
• Adjusts patient examination priorities as needed to accommodate urgent and emergent testing. Is able to assist in the evaluation of consults from outlying VAs to determine need for testing prior Vascular Surgery clinic evaluation.
• Ability to communicate with providers across multiple service lines to ensure that the Vascular Lab staffs are providing proper testing for patients and to educate providers regarding various testing procedures, results, etc.
• Assists in the budget management of the Vascular Lab, ordering necessary supplies and determining priority of ordering new or replacement equipment.
• Awareness of contact persons in Biomed, work order process, and/or equipment company technical support personnel to notify in case of equipment failure.
• Serves as a reference person in the education of allied health personnel.
• Demonstrates good interpersonal relationships with patients and their families and multidisciplinary team members with whom the incumbent interacts.
• Identifies the patient, explains the procedure, ascertains the patient and/or family understanding and is aware of the patient's needs and privacy throughout the examination.
• Demonstrates a working understanding of other areas of the hospital.
• Seeks educational opportunities to keep abreast of advances in the vascular field of technology.
• Implements changes as needed to integrate new procedures and technologies.
• Maintains a working knowledge of the computerized equipment used to perform testing. Utilizes new techniques to provide the quality exams
• Maintaining registration through a designated certifying body, preferably Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT).

Performs the following non-invasive examinations:

• Pulse volume recordings, segmental pressures, Doppler evaluation and reactive hyperemia for PAD (peripheral arterial disease).
• Venous Duplex Imaging for venous thrombosis of the extremities, with knowledge of how impedance plethysmography is performed.
• Venous reflux testing evaluation for venous insufficiency.
• Duplex examination of the carotid arteries for cerebral arterial disease.TCP02(transcutaneous oximetry) testing for wound healing potential. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome evaluation.
• Arterial duplex imaging of vascular bypass grafts and hemodialysis access grafts.
• Assists and/or performs pseudo aneurysm compression.
• Assists the physician in treatment of a pseudo aneurysm with thrombin injection by
  providing continued duplex imaging throughout the procedure.

Work Schedule: 8am-4:30pm M-F
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: GS-649-08
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/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.
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
• Licensure or Certification. 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a

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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the criteria discussed in the applicable headings, or that defined in the appendices, must be met when determining the grade of candidates
.
Education/Training. To be creditable, education must have been gained in an accredited Community College, College, or University.

(1) Training. Completion of appropriate training such as in-service training programs, on the job training, training acquired while in the Armed Forces, government sponsored developmental training programs, and/or training under physicians certified in the functional area will be allowed on a month-for-month basis through the GS-5 level.
(2) Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs.
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-7 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 demonstrates that the technician has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform complex procedures requiring the ability to select appropriate equipment based on symptomology and the objective of the examination and the ability to adapt procedures and techniques to enhance diagnostic results.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Ability to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures or examinations of upper and lower extremity, abdominal, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular vessels which require adaptation of procedures or instruments. 2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology including location and function of major body organs and structures as they relate to vascular ultrasonography. This would also include knowledge of physiological influences on the hemodynamics of blood flow. 3. Knowledge of pharmacology and chemistry to understand drug reactions, action, effects, and method of administration specifically related to vascular ultrasonography.4. Knowledge of disease entities that impact the vascular system and their influence on the test results to select the appropriate procedures. 5. Ability to obtain a patient history and perform and appropriate physical assessment based on patient presentation and type of exam to include observation, inspection, auscultation, and palpation.

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 position to be filled. This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures as a senior technician.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 1. Knowledge of cross-sectional and longitudinal vascular anatomy in normal and abnormal vessels, anatomical planes and tissue structures, physiologic effects of disease entities that impact the vascular system, signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease, and the characteristic appearance of aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, thromboses, stenoses, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation. 2. Ability to provide Doppler information of peripheral vessels; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify carotid artery stenoses; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmographic tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts. 3. Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations. 4. Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency, Doppler angle, focal zones, gain, depth, color map, wall filter, and sample volume. 5. Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease.

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


Preferred Experience: 5 years experience vascular/ ultrasound testing

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-8

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.