Clarification from the agency

This is an external announcement. If you wish to apply as an internal candidate, please apply under Job Announcement 12840503.

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The following represents the full performance level as the Medical Instrument Technician (vascular) functions as a senior vascular technician/sonographer. The MIT (vascular) functions as an integral part of the healthcare team by performing non-invasive diagnostic vascular examinations as requested by the healthcare provider and other technical or clerical tasks as might be required. Including, but not limited to:

-Effectively navigate systems.
-Adhere to the facility and departmental policies and procedures.
-Active listener, giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand thepoints being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
-Effectively communicate with supervisors and peers by providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, electronically, and in person.
-Effectively operate the PV Lab telephone system conveying courtesy consistency and clarity byanswering incoming calls using the VA Standard Phone Greeting. Turn on and off voice messagegreetings, retrieve, return, and route voice messages, and transfer calls to appropriate staff.
-Proficiently operate and navigate the facilities computer system, it's software and hardware usedto: electronically communicate, navigate the Veterans visit, generate requests, producepreliminary reports, and transfer/view diagnostic images.
-Independently and proficiently operate and maintain medical equipment such as the motorizedtreadmill, computerized Doppler system, photoplythysmogram, duplex ultrasound machine, ceilinglift, patient safety equipment and monitoring devices that are available for examinations.
- Adhere to established examination protocols while recognizing indications for further studies beyond established and standardized procedures.
- Assists patients with transfers from wheel chairs, stretchers, tables, and assistive devices.
- Produce preliminary reports from examination data including documentation of procedural difficulties in the medical record.
- Performs low level disinfection of medical equipment and exam rooms.
- Recognize and report computer software and hardware malfunctions appropriately.
- Be responsible for the minor troubleshooting on all medical equipment used in the PV lab. Routes and reports concerns appropriately by contacting Lead, Supervisor and appropriate Biomedical Engineering staff.
- Coordinate inpatient and emergent outpatient PV Lab appointments.
- Transport and chaperone Veterans throughout the facility when necessary.
- Maintain adequate supplies as needed in the PV Lab.
- Participate in on-call coverage for the PV Lab.
- Be adaptable and provide other incidental services deemed appropriate by Supervisor.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, Day Shift w/on-call rotation and service at CBOC
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, 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: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 92535-0
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.
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
• 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. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations".

For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determination GS 8 Medical Instrument Technician (Vascular):

Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform noninvasive vascular ultrasound procedures as a senior technician. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of cross-sectional and longitudinal vascular anatomy in normal and abnormal vessels, anatomical planes and tissue structures, physiologic effects of disease entities that impact the vascular system, signs and symptoms of acute and chronic vascular disease, and the characteristic appearance of aneurysms, pseudoaneurysms, thromboses, stenoses, occlusions, AV fistulae, and morphology of atherosclerotic plaque formulation.
2. Ability to provide Doppler information of peripheral vessels; demonstrate characteristic differences related to the organs they supply; accurately quantify carotid artery stenoses; and identify and correlate specific waveform analysis, plethysmographic tracings, velocity changes, and pressure gradients characteristic of normal, obstructed, or occluded vessels or grafts.
3. Ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations.
4. Ability to operate the instruments to extract the highest quality image utilizing the appropriate transducer frequency, Doppler angle, focal zones, gain, depth, color map, wall filter, and sample volume.
5. Ability to provide objective data to document progression or regression of disease.

Certification -Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.

At the GS-8 level the medical instrument technician (vascular) functions as a senior technician. They are expected to perform the full range of vascular ultrasound procedures including the most complex and non-routine and to make appropriate adjustments in established procedures and techniques to obtain the results required for clinical diagnosis and documentation. At this level the technician would also have the ability to perform intracranial (transcranial) vascular examinations.

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

Preferred Experience: At least 3-5 years of full-time experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skill, and abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties to proficiently perform noninvasive diagnostic peripheral vascular procedures. Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a part of a multidisciplinary team. Detail-oriented with strong interpersonal, technical, and organizational skills.

Registration/Credentials: Current registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Vascular Specialist (RVS) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS) as a Registered Vascular Technologist (RVT).

Education Graduate of a Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Vascular Technology Program accredited by the Joint Commission on Education in Diagnostic Medical Sonography (JRC-DMS) and Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Physical Requirements: On a frequent basis during the tour this position requires the technician to endure extended periods of standing, walking, sitting, bending, lifting, and twisting. The technician is required to regularly carry and push moderately heavy items. The technician must be able to use hands to handle, manipulate, feel objects, tools, and controls The technician is required to view computer monitors and type for extended periods of time. The technician must be able to audibly detect the presence or absence of an audible signal and must be able to visualize details at close range, distinguish colors, and shades of gray.

This position is at full performance level.

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.

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.