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OR Nursing Assistant (Scrub Tech)

Department of Health and Human Services
Indian Health Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

This position is located in the Division of Nursing Services, Women's Health Unit of Gallup Indian Medical Center, Gallup, NM. The position is a dual role in performing a variety of nursing care of specific patient conditions and treatment on the unit and is part of the surgical team in providing care and maintaining a safe environment.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
11/25/2024 to 12/13/2024
Salary
$36,209 to - $57,958 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 4 - 6
Location
few vacancies in the following location:
Gallup, NM
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
6
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Announcement number
IHS-25-GA-12569007
Control number
820997000

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

The IHS is required by law to give absolute preference to qualified applicants who meet the Secretary of the Interior's definition of Indian for appointment to vacancies within the IHS in accordance with established IHS policy as outlined in the Indian Health Manual Part 7, Chapter 3. The IHS is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Duties

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  • Responsible for supplying Surgeons with instruments, sutures, sponges and other equipment.
  • Set up sterilized instruments, equipment, and supplies in preparation for surgeries.
  • Checks equipment for working order; orders supplies as needed
  • Assists in the establishment of and updating of individual Surgeons' reference cards.
  • Performs basic nursing care duties by assisting in direct patient care for both mother and baby
  • Evaluates the needs of the pregnant adolescent/adult female patient. Reporting conditions to nurse/charge nurse.
  • Assist in admitting and discharging patients following policies and procedures. While providing assessment, treatment and continuing care as instructed by the RN.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

Selectee may be subject to a probationary/trial period
ESEP appointees typically serve a two year trial period
U.S. Citizenship is required
Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

This is a designated position covered by Public Law 101-630, requiring contact or control over Indian children. Due to this requirement, the agency must ensure that persons hired for these positions have not been found guilty of or pleaded nolo contendere or guilty to certain crimes.

Confidential Financial Disclosure Form required.

Measles and Rubella immunization required for selectees born after 1957 and seasonal influenza immunization is required for all staff working in Indian Health Service health care facilities.

COVID-19 vaccination is required for all selectees prior to entrance on duty.

On-call hours or standby duty may be required.

Subject to rotating shifts: days, evenings, nights, weekends, and/or holidays to provide continuity of patient care and rotation of services as needed.

Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify/.

You will need to set up direct deposit so we can pay you.

Background Investigation: If you are selected for this vacancy, you must undergo a pre-employment fingerprint check and background investigation. Fingerprint results and background investigation documentation must be cleared prior to hire. After you begin your employment, your continued employment is contingent upon the outcome of a complete background investigation as determined by the sensitivity level of your position. The investigation must find that you are suitable for Federal employment in your position. If you are found not suitable, you will be terminated after you begin work. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or subject to possible criminal charges. You may be subject to a credit check as a part of the background investigation process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, your resume must state sufficient experience and/or education, to perform the duties of the specific position for which you are applying.

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; religious; spiritual; community; social). You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer and part time experience. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week.

BASIC REQUIREMENT(S): Individual Occupational Requirement: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Qualifying specialized experience includes nonprofessional nursing care work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other medical, nursing, or patient care facility, or in such work as that of a home health aide performing duties such as:

  • Providing personal nursing care such as providing pre- and post-operative care.
  • Support duties for diagnostic and technical treatment procedures, such as setting up and operating special medical equipment and apparatus.
  • Caring for mentally ill patients, including observing, recording, and reporting changes in their behavior, and providing reassurance and encouragement.
  • Assisting surgeons and registered nurses in operating room activities, including passing instruments, maintaining sterile conditions, and draping and positioning patients.
OR

Education and Training:
GS-04 Grade Level:
Successful completion of a 2-year degree program in an accredited community college, junior college or college or university in practical nursing or in a field of study appropriate to the specialization of the position, such as education in a program for a psychology, psychiatric or operating room patients.

GS-05 Grade Level: Candidate must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level OR Successful completion of a 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with courses appropriate to the specialization of the position.

GS-06 Grade Level: Candidate must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level.

In addition to the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the Minimum Qualifications stated below.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
GS-04: Your resume must demonstrate at least six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience for the GS-04 grade level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Selects surgical supplies for surgical cases as needed. Sets up surgical suites as indicated by surgical case. Prepares and maintains the sterile field of the operating room using the principles of aseptic technique.

GS-05: Your resume must demonstrate one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks: Selects surgical supplies for surgical cases as needed. Sets up surgical suites as indicated by surgical case. Prepares and maintains the sterile field of the operating room using the principles of aseptic technique as well as experience in local anesthesia cases and the ability to assist in simple surgical cases.

GS-06: Your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level GS-05 in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector performing the following type of work and/or tasks. Examples Include: Select surgical cased as needed and sets up surgical suits as indicated by surgical case, prepares and maintains the sterile field of the operating room using the principles of aseptic technique, mentors surgical tech students providing feedback and training. Experience assisting in the following types of cases; Orthopedics, podiatry, trauma, C-sections, cataracts, specialized OB/GYN, local procedures and endoscopy. Possess basic knowledge of needed equipment, supplies and set-up of complex cases, trauma, and emergencies. Ability to run various machines utilized in the OR environment such as autoclaves, Steris machines and endoscopy equipment.

Combining Experience and Education: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. The combinations described below are those most typical for these positions, i.e., for grades GS-3 through GS-5. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. (When crediting education, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.)

  • For GS-4 level positions, determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the 1 year of experience required for GS-4; then determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the 2 years of education that meets the requirements for GS-4. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-4.
  • For GS-5 level positions, only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. Determine the applicant's total qualifying experience as a percentage of the year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level. Then determine the applicant's education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for GS-5. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify an applicant for GS-5.
Time In Grade
Federal employees in the competitive service are also subject to the Time-In-Grade Requirements: Merit Promotion (status) candidates must have completed one year of service at the next lower grade level. Time-In-Grade provisions do not apply under the Excepted Service Examining Plan (ESEP).

You must meet all qualification requirements within 30 days of the closing date of the announcement.

Education

This position has an education requirement. You are strongly encouraged to submit a copy of your transcripts or a list of your courses including titles, credit hours completed, and grades. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required from all selectees prior to receiving an official offer.

Only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be credited. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: https://www.ed.gov/accreditation.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

Per IHS policy (SGM 21-04) IHS selectees to positions located in Federally operated hospitals, health centers, and clinics must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before entry on duty or have IHS approve a medical or religious exemption. If an exemption is approved then wearing a face mask and regular testing for COVID-19 will be required. Your Human Resources Specialist will provide a list of documents acceptable as vaccination proof and instructions on how to submit your vaccination documentation or how to request a medical or religious exemption, if needed.

Additional selection(s) of candidates may be possible within 240 days from the date the certificate of eligibles was issued for this announcement.

Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. IHS may offer newly-appointed Federal employees credit for their directly related previous non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave.

This position is covered by a Bargaining Unit.

The Indian Health Service (IHS), National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have student loan repayment programs for qualifying health disciplines. This is a competitive process separate from the hiring process. Opportunities for LRP are based on agency hiring priorities and availability of funds. For additional information please visit:
For IHS - http://www.ihs.gov/loanrepayment/
For NHSC - https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/loanrepayment/
For HRSA Nurse Corps - https://bhw.hrsa.gov/loansscholarships/nursecorps

This position has promotion potential to the GS-06 grade level. Promotion to the next grade level is at management's discretion and is based on your demonstrated ability to perform the higher level duties, the continuing need for the higher level duties, and "Regulatory/Administrative" approval. Promotion to the next higher grade level is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied.

How you will be evaluated

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

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To determine if you are qualified for this position, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against the qualifications as defined in the qualifications section of this vacancy announcement and your responses to the assessment questions.
You will be further evaluated/rated based on the information provided in your resume (your resume must state specific duties that relate to this position) and your responses to the assessment questions to determine your competency in the following.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Sterilization
  • Teamwork
  • Technical Competence


You will receive a numeric rating based on your responses to the assessment questionnaires. If after reviewing your resume and responses to the assessment questions, a determination is made that you have overstated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration.

The following links below provide information on how you may be eligible for various hiring authorities. If you are a Veteran, qualified CTAP and ICTAP eligible, or an individual with a disability, please refer to the following links below for additional guidance. CTAP and ICTAP candidates will be eligible for selection priority if it is determined that they have exceeded the minimum qualifications for the position by attaining at least a "well qualified" rating of 85 out of 100. Information about CTAP and ICTAP eligibility is on the Office of Personnel Management's Workforce Restructuring Career Transition website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/. CTAP/ICTAP documentation requirements are listed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Click here to view vacancy questions: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12569007. All documents above MUST be received by 11:59 pm (Eastern Standard Time) of the closing date of, 12/13/2024, to be considered.

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