Clarification from the agency

This job is open ONLY TO current, permanent South Texas Veterans Healthcare System employees. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to below Required Documents section.

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The Special Advanced Medical Instrument Technologist (Polysomnographic) is qualified and experienced in performing all the necessary functions needed to perform a formal sleep study which includes wiring, monitoring, and scoring. The incumbent will work during the day performing day sleep studies, PAP-NAPS, Actigraphy setups/issue/interpret, home sleep study test (HST) set-up/issue/interpret, and instruction of CPAP/BIPAP equipment issued to patients for their sleep disorder.

Administrative Duties include but are not limited to:

• writing instructions for calibrating and standardizing instruments and equipment
• requesting preventative maintenance
• reporting malfunctioning equipment to Biomedical for repair or replacement
• reviewing nighttime studies and ensuring all is prepared for night technicians
• serving as key problem-solver for recording system and patient scheduling, etc.

Clinical Duties include but are not limited to:

• setting up patients on CPAP Units
• applying pulse oximeter ear or finger probe; thoracic and abdominal effort belts; nasal/oral thermistor and thermocouple sensors to produce flow signals, and other diagnostic electrodes and equipment
• monitoring patient, diagnostic equipment, recording and video equipment
• annotating seizures, abnormal sleep behavior and significant respiratory events
• maintaining proper equipment function and data collection
• responding appropriately to all situations involving patient care and maintains proper oxygen and CPAP settings
• checking in and stages patients for daytime Sleep Study appointment and ambulatory studies, etc.

Work Schedule: TBD (Typical Tour is 0700-1530 CST)
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
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: Available on an Ad-hoc (as needed) basis
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 53729-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

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.
• May be required to pass a pre-employment physical evaluation/examination if required by organization.
• 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. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation.
• 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.

Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Grade Determination (GS-09) Above Full-Performance Level: In addition to the core competencies defined at the GS-8 grade-level (as outlined below), positions at this grade may be lead, supervisory, or non-supervisory with specialized advanced knowledge and assignments.

> GS-08 (Full-Performance Level) KSAs:

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.

> Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower (GS-08) grade-level, which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would be experience which demonstrates possession of the knowledge required to provide all aspects of polysomnography services. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*): (NOTE: KSAs 1, 2, and 3 are appropriate for all positions at this level. KSAs 4 and 5 are to be used in accordance with their appropriateness for the specific assignment.)

1. Knowledge of the more complex examination and treatment procedures and techniques in order to provide training and supervision in these procedures, to evaluate and initiate performance improvement projects, and to write policies, procedures, and protocols, that pertain to Polysomnography.
2. *Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
3. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.
4. *Ability to manage and supervise employees.
5. *Ability to provide, or provide for, staff development and training.

> Certification.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.

> Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time.

• Special Assignments. Non-supervisory polysomnography technicians may have assignments that because of their nature substantially exceed the full performance level. The Professional Standards Board will review proposed non-supervisory special assignments for the GS-09 grade-level and make a determination regarding their appropriateness. These assignments are expected to be relatively few in number and must represent substantial additional responsibility over the full performance level.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; Straight pulling (2 hrs); Pulling hand over hand (2 hrs); Pushing (2 hrs); Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking (6 hrs); Standing (4 hrs); Crawling (1/2 hr); Kneeling (2 hrs); Repeated bending (2 hrs); Climbing, use of legs and arms; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Ability to distinguish shades of colors; Hearing (aid may be permitted)

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.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Hold an active license and RPSGT credential with 3+ years of clinical experience
• 1+ year(s) experience with application of all sensors using the International 10-20 system and AASM standards, including EEG, EOG, EMG, ECG, thermistors, pressure transducers, respiratory belts, and oximetry. Scoring and annotating sleep studies in real time, including sleep staging, respiratory scoring, movement scoring, and annotation of seizures, parasomnias, arrhythmias, and
  abnormal behaviors.
• 1+ year(s) experience working with the setup of CPAP, Bi-level, AVAP units, as well as other units involving unique setting for patients requiring specific therapy, i.e., IPAP, EPAP, Back Up Rates, Supplemental O2, Pressure Support, etc.
• Experience communicating with Sleep Clinic, Home O2 technicians, Sleep Clinic physicians, Pulmonologists, Primary Care Physicians, etc. regarding the management and treatment needs of patients
• Team Lead/member experience with ability to distribute workload assignments and work with minimal supervision
• Experience with positive airway pressure (PAP) mask fitting or adjustment and re-evaluation of patients for equipment usage and function

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.