The Health Technician position is under the Spinal Cord Injury Service of VA New Jersey HCS located at East Orange, NJ. Advanced knowledge of the spinal cord injury areas is required to participate in a multidisciplinary team approach to health care in order to provide proper and accurate education programs to patient and family. Assumes responsibility for proper care, storage, ordering and maintenance of stock levels of equipment and supplies utilized by Health Technicians on the SCI unit.

Duties

Main Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities of this position are in three major areas: 1) Patient Care, 2) Education and 3) Administration. 1. Patient Care: Performs gall bladder procedures, including but not limited to catheterization (intermittent and indwelling), applications of external urine collection devices {condoms, liberty pouches, adapting and applying ostomy appliances for ileostomies and urostomies), bladder instillations and irrigational, measure residual urines. Performs bowel care as ordered including digital stimulation, suppository insertion, administration of enemas; insertion of rectal tube and/or manual evacuation of feces. Performs daily skin inspections and recognizes skin compromise and makes, or recommends changes in bed turns, mattress, cushions, or other pressure relief modalities, provides appropriate skin care to surgical wounds and pressure ulcers, including packing of wounds. Reports and recommends changes in care of skin compromise cases to professional staff. 2. Education: The Health Technician assures the completion of all the mandatory education in TMS. Participates in the formulation and implementation of programs intended to educate the patient, family and hired attendant that leads to optimal self-sufficiency for the patient. This includes demonstration, observation and evaluation of activities of daily living such as breathing skills, bladder and bowel management, use and care of various devices utilized by the patient, skin care, signs and symptoms awareness to recognize developing complications and to prioritize measures to be taken when outside the Medical Center. Adapts teaching program as necessary, based on the patient's neurological level and degree of completeness of the spinal cord lesion. 3. Administration: Assumes responsibility for proper care, storage, ordering and maintenance of stock levels of equipment and supplies utilized by Health Technicians on the SCI unit. Documents relevant data regarding patient abilities and ensures required data, such as intake and output, vital signs, weight, and patient care progress is recorded in the patient's medical record as appropriate. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: After successful completion of day shift 8 hour orientation (7a-330p), transition to night tour on rotation 7p-730a Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Spinal Cord Injury)/PD08474A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/01/2023. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Qualifying specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of the anatomy of the genitourinary tract to perform independently urological procedures such as intermittent catheterization, indwelling catheterization, supra pubic catheter insertion, and post void residual monitoring. Knowledge of the lower gastrointestinal tract anatomy and bowel care modalities to include suppository insertion, manual rectal evacuation, digital rectal stimulations, tap water enemas, Fleet enemas. Knowledge of skin compromise and the ability to provide complex dressings that may include topical medications ordered by the provider to the surgical wounds and pressure ulcers. Knowledge of the Arjo lift, ceiling/ manual; and the sliding board with the ability to transfer all patients safely and appropriately. Knowledge of infection control guidelines. limited to: Practical knowledge of the interpersonal communication skills needed to establish rapport and communication with the patient and patient's family in a variety of emotional /physical situations to observe report and appropriately intervene to the emotional needs of the patient. Knowledge of infection control guidelines. limited to: You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer ServiceTeamworkTechnical Competence 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires strenuous physical exertion, agility, long and extensive periods of standing and walking. Patient care activities require regular and recurring bending, stooping, and stretching. Positioning patients necessitates pushing, pulling and lifting patients. This requires considerable effort and working in awkward positions while utilizing appropriate body mechanics. Manual dexterity is necessary as well as utilizing good body mechanics. The employee protects self and others from injury. Occasionally the employee prevents the patient from performing destructive acts against self, others or property. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Keisha Smith
• Phone: 520-339-8112
• Email: [email protected]