Clarification from the agency

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

Videos

• PAP follow-up and patient education.
• Maintain infection control procedures and standard precautions.
• Provides housekeeping duties as necessary (for quick turnaround procedures).
• Prepares and maintains statistical data, reports, and memoranda, direct equipment and storage; ensure adequate supply and equipment levels.
• Consult on technical basis; assist with training of PSG technicians, medical students, residents and fellows as needed.
• Attend meetings as require, and participate on committees as directed.
• Utilize sleep equipment software and handle over the phone troubleshooting and remediation activities with the manufacturer.
• Responsible for polysomnogram file management and long term archiving activities to include maintaining an organized numeric system to catalog archiving medium for easy retrieval.
• Perform all procedures and tasks related to polysomnographic data acquisition while monitoring study-tracing quality to ensure signals are artifact-free and make adjustments, if necessary.
• Collect, analyze and integrate patient information to identify and meet the patient-specific needs; determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering provider and laboratory protocols.
• Follow procedural protocols (multiple sleep latency test, maintenance of wakefulness test, parasomnia studies, PAP, oxygen titration, etc.) to ensure collection of appropriate data.
• Score sleep/wake studies by applying professionally accepted guidelines (standards of American Academy of Sleep Medicine( including, but not limited to , clinical events such as respiratory events, cardiac events, limb movement.
• Scoring comparison for performance improvement monitoring.
• Entering information into various database programs
• Establish the set of Home diagnostic studies in the sleep lab, including downloading data and generating reports.
• Provide age specific care in treatment, assessment, and education of patients from 17-99 years of age.
• Create documents in Word, Access and Excel as well as utilize other software programs.
• Advanced knowledge of complex and non-standard treatment and examination procedures and techniques.

Work Schedule: Monday to Thursday, 8:00PM - 6:30AM; Monday-Friday, 8:AM - 4:30PM
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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 may 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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy.

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 Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates.
**Please note: You MUST demonstrate all the KSAs listed below to be qualified for the desired grade level. Failure to demonstrate each KSA in your resume may result in your disqualification. **

GS-06:
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-05) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs at the GS-06 Grade Level:

• Knowledge of standard, computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG and respiratory parameters.
• Knowledge of standard devices such as oximeters, respiratory effort devices, nasal pressure devices, thermistors, thermocouples, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, and laboratory computers including the ability to calibrate and operate the equipment and recognize and eliminate recording artifacts.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and medical record organization to review medical records, sleep study orders, consent forms, medical charts, etc.
• Knowledge of polysomnographic procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies, MSLT, MWT, PAP, etc.).
• Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology and the international 10-20 electrode placement system in order to conduct the sleep studies.

GS-07:
Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-06) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience which provided the individual with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to independently conduct difficult but standardized polysomnography examinations.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs at the GS-07 Grade Level:

• Knowledge of CPAP function and operation to select and fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices.
• Ability to independently titrate and document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals.
• Knowledge of indications, complications, and contraindications of CPAP therapy.
• Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations.
• Ability to recognize changes seen during the PSG tracing and identify all stages of sleep. This includes the ability to score and analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnography recordings.

GS-8
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 positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided a knowledge of the more complex procedures as well as knowledge of the uncommon and/or rate sleep disorders.
Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, candidate must demonstrate the following (KSAs)

• Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders.
• Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form.
• Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stages, seizures, etc.) and ability to take appropriate action.
• Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians.
• Certification. No certification or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.

Preferred Experience: Registered Polysomnography Technician or Sleep Disorder Specialist highly desirable.

References: VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G27, Medical Instrument Technician Qualification Standard, GS-649, Veterans Health Administration, dated June 7, 2012

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time; frequent bending, reaching, stooping, and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus; lifting and repositioning patients; and pushing or pulling heavy objects such as oxygen tanks and/or equipment. The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above-average dexterity to perform intricate respiratory therapy / sleep procedures.

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.