Job opening: Medical Instrument Technician-Hemodialysis
Salary: $37 323 - 74 473 per year
Published at: Aug 02 2023
Employment Type: Full-time
The Eastern Colorado Health Care System VA Hospital is located on the Fitzsimmons Campus in Aurora, Colorado and is currently recruiting for one GS 4/5/6/7/8 Medical Instrument Technician-Hemodialysis.
Duties
Medical Instrument Technician, MIT-Hemodialysis duties include, but are not limited to the following:
Performs and monitors all aspects of hemodialysis treatments under the Supervision of the Dialysis RNs in the Chronic Dialysis Unit
Works in the Renal Section of Nursing Services & operates the dialysis machines, the Portables Reverse Osmosis, RO, machines, & main RO system used for dialysis treatments
Assembles equipment, prepares dialysis machine, cannulation access or appropriate use of central venous catheter, connects patient to machine, assesses patient during dialysis treatment & communicates status to RN, monitors & documents vital signs, administered designated dialysis medications approved for MIT administration per Unit Standard of Practice, terminates dialysis, (including rinse back of blood), extracts needles from access site, ensures needle site stops bleeding, documents care
Sets up, manages troubleshoots, calibrates, repairs, & operates highly technical equipment
Explains various procedures/possible symptoms during treatment-assesses basic deviations to determine if machine/patient related
Assists RN in responding to variety of routine/unusual/emergency dialysis complications: symptomatic hypotension, inadequate access flow, cramping, infiltrated access, clotted dialyzer &/machine alarm assessments
Performs inpatient treatment care: transporting, setting up, disinfecting, cleaning, equipment/performing rinsing procedures, record keeping, communicating machine repair needs to Leads
Investigates/evaluates new technology/treatment methods: presents findings/makes recommendations to multi-disciplinary team
Inventories supplies/re-stocks dialysis supplies in patient care area upon arrival, etc
Performs water performance testing for chorine/chloramines prior to patient shift-ensuring water treatment equipment is operating properly to make suitable water for hemodialysis procedures
Recognizes abnormal water sample results/responds accordingly
Participates educational activities, completes unit based in-services, & mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner by deadlines
Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills & professional behavior that promote cooperation & teamwork
Practices good customer customer service and demonstrates VA I-CARE values
Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities, unit based performance improvement measures & results
Identifies problem areas by practicing evidence-based practices on unit
Perform other duties as assigned
Work Schedule:0400-1630 Mon-Sat compressed, rotating schedule including Saturdays & holidays.
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 554-555(3)(4)(5)(6)or(7)-O
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Qualifications
Applicants pending educational/certification/licensure completion requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but can't be hired until all requirements are met
Basic Requirements:
US Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when you can't recruit qualified citizens.
English Language Proficiency. Must be able to speak & write English
Education. There aren't specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education can only be substituted for experience at the GS-4 & GS-5 level. See grade requirements for information regarding educational substitutions.
Titles & Certifications/Registrations: All individuals assigned to this occupation MUST have an approved parenthetical title. For individuals at the GS-4 & GS-5 levels, the approved title is Medical Instrument Technician-Trainee.
Hemodialysis Technicians operate & monitor kidney dialysis instruments to provide dialysis treatment to patients w/ kidney failure or maintain patients w/ irreversible kidney disorders. Agencies that offer national certification are Nephrology Certification Commission, NNCC, Board of Nephrology Examiners, Inc., Nursing & Technology, BONENT, National Nephrology Certification.
Training. Completion of appropriate training i.e. in-service training programs, on the job training, training acquired while in the Armed Forces, government sponsored developmental training programs, &/or training under physicians certified in the functional area are allowed on a month-for month basis through the GS-5 level.
Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. ? 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification requirements.
Grade Determinations. In addition to basic requirements for employment, criteria discussed in applicable headings, or defined in appendices, must be met when determining candidates' grades.
Education/Training. Creditable education must have been attained in an accredited Community College, College or University.
Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the US must have been submitted to private organizations that specialize interpreting foreign educational credentials & such education must be found at least equivalent to US conventional programs.
Basic Developmental Levels
GS-4
Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade demonstrating KSAs & characteristics related to position duties. 6 months of experience may have been in medically related fields: nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The other 6 months must have been operating diagnostic & therapeutic MIT equipment. Experience gained operating MIT equipment for animal diagnosis/treatment may be credited at this level. In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:
OR
Education. Successful completion of 2 years of education above high school or associate's degree w/ major field study directly related to MIT occupation
Demonstrated KSAs
1) Basic medical terminology knowledge
2) Ability to learn components, operating characteristics & equipment settings
3) Ability to learn typical patient reactions to basic procedures involved & ability to recognize distress signs
4) Ability to learn standard positions for conducted procedures
5) Ability to communicate orally & in writing
GS-5
Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade which demonstrates KSAs, & characteristics related to position duties. This should be experience operating equipment related to the MIT specialization you applied for or in related functional areas. Experience gained in operating equipment for animal diagnosis/treatment may be credited through this grade level. In addition, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
OR
Education. Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to bachelor's degree w/ courses related to occupation or bachelor's degree in major field of study appropriate to MIT functions
Demonstrated KSAs
1) Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
2) Knowledge of common physical disabilities & ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
3) Ability to learn the normal & abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize & report obvious abnormalities
4) Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures
5) Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, & calibrate the machine
GS-6
Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade which demonstrates KSAs & characteristics related to position duties. In addition, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
Demonstrated KSAs
1) Skill in setting up, operating & performing calibrations as required on variety of dialysis equipment
2) Skill in performing & interpreting test results, dialysate chemistries, water treatment testing for contaminates, etc. including ability to analyze deviations from expected norm & responding appropriately
3) Knowledge of American Association of Medical Instrumentation, AMMI standards & unit policies as they relate to water treatment
4) Knowledge of physiological & psychological changes & conditions related to end stage renal disease
5) Ability to calculate dialysis baths according to physician's orders per patient by mixing critical concentrates, i.e., calcium, potassium & bicarbonate
6) Knowledge of Basic Cardiac Life Support, BCLS
GS-7
Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level demonstrating KSAs & characteristics related to position duties. These experiences should have provided knowledge of equipment, standard procedures, & typical machine problems &/or patient reactions to treatment. In addition, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
GS-7 KSAs
1) Ability to assist the physician in more complex procedures such as central venous catheter insertion
2) Ability to assist in training patients in home/self-care by teaching components of machine operation including water treatment & monitoring patients for compliance
3) Ability to act as mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians
4) Ability to analyze deviations from the expected, determine whether deviations are machine or patient related & respond according to findings
GS-8
Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level demonstrating KSAs & characteristics related to position duties. These experiences should have provided knowledge of complex procedures, pharmacology, & knowledge of related acute disorders & diseases & their effects on organs/treatment methods. In addition, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SECTION OF JOB ANNOUNCEMENT:
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Transcripts must include your name, the school's entire name, can be unofficial transcripts, must have the name of the course, date course taken, grade received for the course, amount of credits earned for the course, date degree conferred, (if applicable), (name of degree received, (if applicable).
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 Eastern Colorado HCS Denver
13611 E. Colfax Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
US
- Name: Jeannie Wright
- Phone: (970) 263-6272
- Email: [email protected]
Map