This position is located at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL (578) - a Level 1a Complexity VHA Facility - and is organizationally aligned under the Nursing Service. The primary purpose of this position is to provide direct patient care activities, indirect patient care activities and related supportive services under the general guidance and direction of a Registered Nurse.
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Specialized Experience: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. For GS-5, you may meet basic requirement with Education and Training: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING GRADE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION. GS-5 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of Specialized experience are as follows: Basic knowledge of the instruments and procedures commonly used to include basic knowledge of tools and items and their purpose. Ability to position patients for treatment and/or postoperative surgery and basic knowledge of usual alternate positions for patients with common physical disabilities. Knowledge of basic medical terminology to interpret physician instructions. A basic understanding of anatomy and physiology. Knowledge and skill in emergency first aid procedures. Skill to apply such knowledge to perform routine diagnostic or treatment procedures or to assist as a team member during procedures. A basic knowledge of normal and abnormal results to recognize and report obvious abnormalities during periods of observation OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4 years above high school (Transcripts Required) OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine experience and education to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education as described above. GS-6 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: 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: Applying basic knowledge of basic anatomy/physiology and medical techniques to support direct patient care. Effectively communicating and providing support to patients and healthcare professionals. Utilizing and maintaining medical equipment and instruments; performing safety/emergency procedures related to patient transport, infection control, environmental safety; observing and reporting changes in patients physical and emotional behavior. Performing medical tests and duties including phlebotomy, EKG, and CPR. Entering patient information and vital signs in computerized medical record systems using appropriate terminology. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: Physical requirements include extensive periods of standing and walking. Patient care activities require regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing and similar activities using appropriate body mechanics and other assistive devices for patient and/or equipment movement and transfer. The employee protects self and others from injury.
Duties: Applies principles of infection control when performing direct and indirect patient care assignments. Demonstrates competence in the performance of clinical procedures outlined in the approved skills inventory and unit-specific procedures as assigned. Provides care based on physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria appropriate to the age of the patients served in his/her assigned area (i.e., adult and geriatric patient population). This entails knowledge of human growth and development; ability to assess and interpret age specific data and provide age specific care; communication skills necessary to interpret age specific response to treatment; and ability to involve family/significant others in decision making related to plan of care. The knowledge, abilities and skills needed to provide such care will be refined through continuing education and training and. experience. Maintains a safe, clean, and orderly work environment through routine maintenance activities such as ordering and stocking equipment and supplies; cleaning equipment and patient care areas; providing proper containment/ disposal of discarded materials; reporting maintenance and security problems to appropriate personnel. Seeks guidance/clarification of instructions from appropriate individuals as needed. Completes patient care assignments within reasonable period and keeps Registered Nurse informed. Knowledge and skill sufficient to provide and document direct patient care activities as specified in this position description and attached skills inventory. Knowledge and skill sufficient to observe the patient's physical and emotional reactions to care and therapy and to communicate this to the Registered Nurse and other appropriate health care staff. Provides selected respiratory care, such as incentive breathing exercises, turn, deep breath and cough, oxygen therapy, monitoring of MDI self-administration and oral/ pharyngeal suctioning under the direction of the RN and/ or respiratory therapist. Work Schedule: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm including rotating shifts, weekends and holidays. Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD04341A Salary Ranges: GS-5: $45,087 - $58,607 GS-6: $50,259 - $65,334