Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) for Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The Organizational Location of the Position is: Sterile Processing Service, VA Caribbean Healthcare System. In this position, the incumbent will provide cleaning, decontamination, preparation, packaging, sterilization or high-level disinfection and distribution of reusable medical devices (RMD) throughout the medical center.

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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. Experience and/or Education: experience: Six (6) months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; Or, Education: One (1) year above high school that included at least six (6) semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; Or, Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Certification: None. Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technician (MSTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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:GS-03: None beyond the basic requirements. Grade Determinations: GS-04: Six months experience as a Medical Supply Technician, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; OR two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below: Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. Grade Determination: GS-05: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04) OR four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. Grade Determination: GS-06: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05).In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. References: VA Handbook 5005/83, Part II, Appendix G47, dated May 28, 2014 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-03 to GS-06. Selective Placement Factor: Must be proficient in spoken and written Spanish language. Physical Requirements: The work is performed in various settings throughout the facility, to include but not limited to; decontamination, scope room, sterile storage, Prep & Packaging and clinical departments. The incumbent may be required to work in a multitude of temperature variants. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday, with frequent bending and lifting of instrumentation (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee will be asked to rotate between carefully controlled clean environments and the contaminated area of decontamination. The employee wears personal protective equipment, as appropriate for their area. This will include, but not limited to; hospital provided surgical attire, hair covers, beard covers, shoe covers, and hospital dedicated shoes. The employee may be exposed to hazardous materials or loud noises within the department.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address San Juan VA Medical Center 10 Calle Casia San Juan, PR 00921 US
• Name: Mireya Rodriguez-Perez
• Phone: 787-221-2542
• Email: [email protected]