Clarification from the agency

Area of Consideration--1st Current, Permanent, VA Caribbean Healthcare System employees including employees of the Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) and Outpatient Clinics. 2nd Status Candidates {Current and former competitive service Federal employees, and people eligible under special hiring authorities. This includes all Merit Promotion sources: Status (Transfers, Reinstatements), VEOA, Permanent VCS employees, CTAP, ICTAP, Non-Competitive Eligible and certain Excepted Service Employees.

Videos

• Measure and record vital signs, weight, height, pain level, intake/output, and oxygen Saturation.
• Enter patient finding and observations in CPRS and notify licensed staff of abnormal results.
• Perform EKG acquisition, capillary blood glucose testing, Troponin testing and phlebotomy as assigned.
• Assist with Foley catheter insertion, nasogastric tube placement, and enteral or oral feeding as authorized.
• Assist with minor procedures, including suturing, incision and drainage, wound care, and lumbar puncture preparation.
• Provide hygiene, toileting, linen changes, and other basic physical care while maintaining patient comfort and dignity.
• Identify and observe suicidal or other high-risk patients and immediately report safety concerns.
• Document behavioral observations for high-risk patients according to facility policy.
• Set up oxygen delivery devices and provide authorized airway support and oral/ nasopharyngeal suctioning.
• Apply cervical collars, long boards, and other immobilization devices as indicated.
• Assist patients arriving by private vehicle and transfer them safety into the Emergency Department.
• Select appropriate transfer equipment and safety transport or escort patients to imaging, procedures, admissions, and other clinical areas.
• Prepare and pass instruments and supplies for diagnostic test and minor surgical procedures.
• Inspect, clean, organize, and report deficiencies in clinical equipment and supplies.
• Participate in BLS, resuscitation, Rescue Team responses, and emergency patient care within authorized duties.
• Assist with decontamination tent/trailer setup, patient and staff decontamination, and postmortem care when assigned.
• Update the Emergency Department Information System(EDIS) to support workload tracking and patient flow.
• Maintain treatment and clean utility room in a clean, organized , and fully stocked condition.
• Monitoring supply level, replenish materials, and report equipment or supply deficiencies.
• Participate in departmental quality improvement and patient safety activities involving equipment and supplies.
• Receive calls and visitors and provide accurate basic information about Emergency Department services and procedures.
• Participate in departmental quality improvement and patient safety activities involving equipment and supplies.
• Conduct patient screening and promptly communicate findings and changes in condition to licensed clinical staff.

Work Schedule: Rotating shifts, weekends and holidays
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician- Emergency Department/PD01243A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
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
• 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period 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 probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/19/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 . The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. General Adjustment SF-50's with the effective date of within the last year do not provide the information to reflect time-in-grade requirement has been met and therefore cannot be the only SF-50. If you are currently serving in a Hybrid Title 38 position, your SF-50's must reflect you have been in the position longer than one year.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

• English Language Requirement: You must be fluent in spoken and written English, including speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing to meet the requirements of this position.-AND
• -Spanish Language Requirement: You must be fluent in spoken and written Spanish, including speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing to meet the requirements of this position your experience as described below:

-AND-

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: providing direct patient care in an emergency or acute care setting; measuring and recording vital signs and other clinical findings; documenting patient observations in electronic medical records and reporting abnormal results to licensed staff; performing EKG acquisition, blood glucose and troponin testing, and phlebotomy; assisting with personal hygiene and basic physical care; observing high-risk patients and reporting safety concerns; providing authorized oxygen and airway support; safely transferring and transporting patients; maintaining clinical equipment and supplies; and assisting with basic life support, resuscitation, and emergency responses within the scope of assigned duties.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Customer Service
• Flexibility
• Integrity/Honesty
• Interpersonal Skills
• Reading Comprehension
• Self-Management
• Stress Tolerance
• Teamwork

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.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work requires some standing, walking, bending, stooping, lifting, transporting and positioning of patients.
The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The work may require heavy lifting of items or patients
with appropriate equipment.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

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 WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the 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.