This position is located at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL (578) - a Level 1a Complexity VHA Facility.

Duties

Establishes helpful relationships with patients and others; interacts in a courteous manner; explains patient care provided. Provides emotional support, friendly assistance, sympathetic understanding and encouragement to patients/families. Contributes to patient's well-being by providing assistance with personal hygiene, bowel/bladder care, physical comfort and a clean and safe environment. Provides appropriate support to patients in meeting their nutritional needs by clearing overbed tables, placing meal trays/nourishments within easy reach, preparing food/beverages, obtaining additional items, feeding patients, recording intake and clearing trays. Adds prescribed nourishment to existing continuous tube feeding setup. Performs, reports and records measurements, such as vital signs, intake and output, pulse. oximetry, glucose finger stick and other parameters. Identifies obvious patient problems, symptoms, behavioral changes and deviations from normal in a timely manner to the appropriate Registered Nurse. Performs EKG as directed and provides results to Registered Nurse. Collects urine, stool sputum, and blood specimens by phlebotomy using appropriate procedures. Accurately labels all specimens and delivers to laboratory as indicated. 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. Applies appropriate principles of body mechanics and patient safety in assisting patients with movement, positioning, ambulation, and transportation. Provides activity orient exercises under direction of the RN and/ or rehabilitation therapist. Uses assistive devices appropriately. Assists nurses/physicians with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed on the unit. Safely transports patients to off unit appointments. Applies principles of infection control when performing direct and indirect patient care assignments. Assists in emergency situations and initiates CPR when indicated. Records care given and objective/subjective patient observations on appropriate medical record forms. 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. Reinforces patient health teaching related to self-care. Correctly and safely uses equipment and supplies. Cleans and returns equipment to appropriate location and reports needs for equipment repair to the appropriate person. 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. Contributes to creating a work climate that encourages positive staff morale, motivation, and commitment for all who participate in the care of patients. Answers telephone and call lights courteously, and relays messages in a timely fashion. Follows policies and procedures to ensure safety for patients, staff and self. Identifies and immediately reports safety hazards to supervisors. Seeks guidance/clarification of instructions from appropriate individuals as needed. Completes patient care assignments within reasonable period and keeps Registered Nurse informed. Completes annual mandatory reviews, participates in continuing education at unit/service level, identifies personal learning needs/goals with supervision. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 3:30pm-midnight including rotating weekends and holidays Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician - 7 East/PD21231A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-05 Qualifications: Must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (GS-04) performing duties specific to this position. Examples of specialized experience include (but are not limited to): Experience taking and recording vital signs; preparing patients and assisting with clinical activities; knowledge of medical terminology; knowledge and ability to schedule patient appointments in a computerized system; skill in communication to appropriately and courteously relate to patients and families regarding their medical condition; experience receiving and triaging phone calls and visitors for the appropriate assistance; providing administrative support for a medical clinic; reviewing medical documentation and records; and knowledge of infection control and must be certified in basic CPR; OR Have successfully completed a full 4 year course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree, with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position? [Transcripts Required]; OR Possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed education and experience. **One full academic year of study (i.e. 30 semester hours) beyond the second year of undergraduate is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience. [Transcripts Required]** GS-06 Qualifications: Must possess at least one (1) full year of specialized experience performing duties such as: taking and recording vital signs; preparing patients and assisting with clinical activities; scheduling patient appointments in a computerized system; receiving and triaging phone calls and visitors for the appropriate assistance; reviewing medical documentation and records; and knowledge of infection control and must be certified in basic CPR. **There is no education substitution for the GS-06 grade level** 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.

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.

Contacts

• Address Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Tamesha Rogers
• Email: [email protected]