Clarification from the agency

The Public - Open to ALL US Citizens, including ALL Current Permanent Federal Employees, Current Permanent Department of Veterans Affairs Employees; and Current Permanent NF/SG VA Healthcare System Employees. Facility Employees will have FIRST consideration, 2nd-Agency Employees, 3rd-Federal Employees of other agencies, and then US Citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position.

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The Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist will provide Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Diagnostic Radiology Services at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center under the direction of a physician and assists the radiologist in complex exams and procedures. Technologists coming in at this grade level are required to complete a training period where policies, protocol, and procedures of NF/SG Diagnostic Imaging are introduced. He/she will be exposed to the different aspects and rotations within MRI. The training will include, but is not limited to, functionality of MRI equipment, routine and advanced imaging procedures, and patient safety. The training will include performance-based competencies to ensure a complete understanding of the functionality and operation of all the radiologic/MR equipment, difficult procedures and general examinations in order to be fully successful at this grade level.
The technologist will also be required to work a variety of off tour shifts gaining experience and exposure to different situations he/she may not encounter on a normal tour. The Technologist at this grade level is required be on Call-back status as this is a 24-hour modality service and coverage either by call or in-house is always maintained. The on-call technologist will also be utilized when off tour shift coverage is necessary on an emergency basis.

Functions include but are not limited to:

Interpret requests or instructions from the radiologist or clinicians. Performs a spectrum of simple and advanced MRI exams following prescribed protocols required to perform procedures of the: Brain, Abdominal, Cardiac, MSK, Breast, Extremity, Urological, interventional planning and procedures with and without the use of contrast materials as directed by the radiologist.

• Operate all MRI equipment, a variety of super conductive Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners, highly complex computerized imaging device which employs the use of strong magnetic fields and radio waves to acquire images.
• Receive and positively identify each patient by asking for two (2) forms of identification not limited to, full name, full social security number, or date of birth.
• Assist in the transporting of patients, via wheelchair, stretcher, or with walking assistance when appropriate, to different locations throughout the hospital and medical centers. Maximize patient throughput by contacts with escort, ward secretaries, EMS, nursing personnel, etc.
• Perform adequate MRI safety screening, explain the exam procedure, chooses the best imaging coil for the part of the patient's body being scanned.
• Observe patient safety guidelines as set forth in department and Medical Center policies and procedures; and the Reference Manual for MRI Safety Implants and Devices, and American College of Radiology (ACR) guidelines for MR safety.
• Perform and complete imaging studies within the established guidelines for stat, pre-op, urgent and routine exams.
• Monitor the MRI schedule and reschedule appointments to optimize scanner times while maintaining flexibility for emergency cases.
• Prepare sterile procedure trays, sterile supplies, power injector, pressure bags, and all necessary ancillary equipment.
• Report all equipment failures to the bio-medical engineer, PACS administrator, supervisor, lead and/or co-workers in a timely manner.
• Utilize Vista and CPRS to look up pertinent patient information that relates to patient examinations; including pertinent laboratory reports, nursing notes, radiology orders/consults, physician notes, allergies, and radiology reports.
• Clean and disinfect equipment after each use in accordance with infection control and EMS standards and demonstrate competency in the ability to set up, clean or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) as related to the manufacture guidelines.

Work Schedule: 1pm - 9:30pm, Monday through Friday including mandatory on-call rotations for after-hours and Federal Holidays
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 50675F
EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact vhav08nflccoe@va.gov, an available EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
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.
• 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:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR). This specialty modality requires additional knowledge of superconducting magnets, the physics of superconducting magnets, and how they relate to the human anatomy in medical imaging. The technologist must be educated in the safety factors governing a magnetic environment that patients, visitors, and equipment enter. The practitioner must have specialized knowledge of cross sectional anatomy and how it relates to the soft tissues and vessels of the human body. The technologist must also have specialized knowledge in the radio-frequency surface coils required for each specific anatomical area to be imaged. This assignment may also perform basic magnetic resonance safety program duties. Technologists must be knowledgeable in contrast media, power injectors, and PACS. DRT assignments that include performance of independent duties in this subspecialty require advanced ARRT (MR) certification.

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. Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).

Certification-Documentation required. All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology, Radiography (ARRT) (R). Advanced ARRT certification is required for assignments that include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Advanced certification indicates that the technologist can operate independently and has demonstrated specific clinical competency in the appropriate specialty and taken and passed the designated examination.

Education-Submit documentation. Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the 2 equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program, evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE).

Credentialing Standards. Public Law 97-35, the Consumer-Patient Radiation Health and Safety Act of 1981, requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75, Standards for the Accreditation of Educational Programs and the Credentialing of Radiographic Personnel. Essentially, they must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation and is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and be certified as radiographers in their field.

Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a DRT on the effective date (12/13/2019) of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the DRT occupation.


Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for appointment, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates:

Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist, GS-9 Grade Requirement
Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level, directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment-specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):

• Ability to balance the needs of patients and staff while still performing complex scans and procedures.**
• Knowledge of techniques for gathering relevant information from the medical record, significant others, and health care providers.
• Ability to assess factors that may contraindicate the procedure.**
• Knowledge of basic first aid and basic life support practices related to radiography.
• Knowledge of physical assessment, aseptic techniques, intravenous methods and techniques and universal precautions.
• Knowledge of pre-procedural, procedural, and post-procedural care of patients.

Assignments. Employees at this level are fully functional as an advanced DRT and carry out their assigned tasks independently. DRTs at this level may have varying assignments including special and complex imaging procedures beyond the full performance level, clinical instruction, and basic QM type duties within the program. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level. 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 technologist at least 25% of the time.


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 GS-9.

Physical Requirements: The work requires long periods of standing and walking. There is some bending, lifting, and carrying of light items such as coils. Heavy lifting of totally incapacitated patients is done only with the help of other employees.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

This is an Open Continuous Announcement and the applicant cut off date will be on the 30th of each month until the position is filled.

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.

RESUME REMINDER: Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear and in English so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. If your resume includes a photo, you will be disqualified. We will not access web pages or encrypted, and digitally signed documents linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
* Updated and accurate duties (be as detailed as possible)
* Grade level (applicable for federal jobs)
* Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
* Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week).

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.