Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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Major duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Provides treatments to patients with renal failure in chronic and acute setting, assists renal providers/clinicians with delivery of in-center, off-station, and self-care/home renal replacement therapy to patients with chronic irreversible kidney disorders.
• Applies knowledge of anatomy and physiology including an in­ depth understanding of the functioning of major systems and internal organs to interpret requests and to recognize need for additional treatments and/or tests.
• Applies knowledge to perform chronic and acute diagnostic or treatment procedures or to assist as a team member during such procedures.
• Applies knowledge of pharmacology including classification and administration of ordered dialysate baths, dialysis prescription, dosage administration of normal saline, and patient responses.
• Adapts parts of the machinery, instrument and/or medical devices to meet especially difficult situations for patient treatment delivery.
• Applies knowledge of normal and abnormal results to recognize and report obvious abnormalities.
• Establishes standards of care and uses experience and judgement in performing dialysis procedures in collaboration with nursing staff and renal interdisciplinary providers/clinicians.
• Determines proper treatment procedure, technique, and compatible instrument adjustments pre/intra/post dialysis.
• Assists RN with peritoneal dialysis (PD) case management, independently performs PD equipment and supplies inventory to assure availability of essential clinical resources and prevent utilization of expired PD solutions and supplies.
• Performs orientation and in-service training to renal fellows, novice nurses, and lower-grade technicians on dialysis techniques and related equipment systems, medical devices, and machinery.
• Applies knowledge of sterilization methods to clean and disinfect dialysis machinery, water purification equipment systems, solution delivery systems, and other associated medical devices, instruments, and reusable medical equipment per manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU) to control and prevent spread of infectious and contagious diseases.
• Provides direct patient care in collaboration with dialysis RNs.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Saturday, Variable 10 hour shifts, including holidays.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized.
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized.
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: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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 dentification 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

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.

Grade Determinations: GS-08
(a) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-07) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided knowledge of the more complex procedures, the pharmacology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of the hemodialysis process and equipment needed for home/self care including knowledge of common machine problems and repairs to such equipment.
2. Knowledge of the equipment and procedures for peritoneal dialysis.
3. Ability to assist the physician with percutaneous renal biopsies and peritoneal catheter insertion.
4. Ability to provide instruction to dialysis patients in home/self care and in the maintenance of the equipment.
5. Ability to provide instruction for physicians, nurses, and other personnel in dialysis procedures, equipment operation and maintenance, etc.

(c) Certification: No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications.

(d) Assignment: This represents the full performance level. At this level the hemodialysis technician serves as a member of a dialysis team performing dialysis on acutely ill patients including those within an intensive care setting. Assignments involve performing both peritoneal and hemodialysis procedures. The dialysis technician may participate in percutaneous renal biopsies, watching the patient during the procedure and properly processing the specimen. Assists the physician in peritoneal catheter insertions and observes the patient for vital signs and provides post operative care. Provides instruction and monitors patients for home dialysis. Performs training of physicians, nurses, and technicians on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis techniques.

Preferred Experience: Minimum of 3 years experience:

• Performing hemodialysis procedures in chronic and/or acute setting and providing direct care & nursing interventions to hemodialysis patients.
• Performing technical work related to inventory and stocking of dialysis supplies, consumables, and/or specialty products vital for clinical operations.
• Setting up, operating (pre/intra/post) hemodialysis procedures, troubleshooting, maintaining, performing safety testing of the Fresenius 2008T hemodialysis machine, and associated patient care treatment equipment, medical devices, and instruments for use in the chronic and/or acute setting.
• Start up, operation, troubleshooting, and shut down of centralized hemodialysis water purification systems, centralized solution delivery systems, and portable reverse osmosis equipment.
• Have current specialty certification as a hemodialysis technician at the California State and/or National level per VHA Directive 1042.01, Veteran Dialysis Care.
• Have current/active Basic Life Support Certification (BLS).

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

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.

No Veterans Preference will be applied to this announcement due to the position being placed under the FY26 VHA Shortage Occupation List.