The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) is at the Advanced level and works with the Chief and Assistant Chief of the Sterile Processing Services within Nursing Operations with the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. This position will be responsible for providing sterilization, preparation, supply items, and reusable medical equipment decontamination and distribution support for the Medical Center.

Duties

The duties of the Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) at the Advanced level include, but are not limited to the following: Responsible for assembling highly complex instrument sets including, but not limited to: open heart, major orthopedic total joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation. Process all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory, bronchoscopy laboratory, urology and operating room. Review manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning, decontaminating, and sterilizing reusable medical equipment (RME). Troubleshoots and analyzes mechanical failures and make necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment. Informs management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures (SOPs). Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area. Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method. Inspects, prepares, assembles, and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization. Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization, and inspection of RME. Operate equipment involved in sterilization processes. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment Work Schedule: Weekdays, weekends and holidays with rotating shifts Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 57969-A Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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. English Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technicians (MSTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3j. Education: One (1) year above high school that included at least 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. Certification: None 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 for the GS-7 Grade Level: Experience: One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06). Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Detailed knowledge of complex surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Ability to assemble specialty operating room and clinic instrument sets. In-depth knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing in order to convey information and thoughts to others. References: VA Handbook 5005/83, Part II, Appendix G47 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-07. Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (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 alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing, hair covers, personal protective equipment and shoe covers that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses are unknown. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.

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 Oklahoma City VA Health Care System 921 Northeast 13th Street Oklahoma City, OK 73104 US
• Name: Chantel Moss
• Phone: 334-239-9344
• Email: [email protected]