The Health Technician is assigned to the acute care setting within Salt Lake City VA Medical Center and reports to the Nurse Manager. The incumbent serves as an advanced technician with the Same Day Surgery (SDS) - Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) for patients who present for treatment.

Duties

The incumbent serves as an advanced technician with the Same Day Surgery (SDS) - Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) for patients who present for treatment. Duties include, but are not limited to: Performing observation-based screening, collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel. This may involve obtaining patient health/medication history, and information about health-related or high- ill complete approved templates and tools. Participates in the admission of patients by obtaining information, orienting patients to the unit and treatment team, obtaining vital signs and weight and checking patients and their belongings for hazardous items. Obtain patient vital signs, document in the EHR, and report any vitals outside of normal range to licensed staff member. Observations and interventions. Examples: oxygen therapy, thermal regulation, ambulation, oral/trach care, IV insertion/removal. Point-of-care testing such as I-STAT and glucometer. Operates specialized equipment such as defibrillators, electrocardiographs, bladder scans, electrocardiographic monitors, and oxygen apparatus according to training/competencies and national/local policy. Wound care such as bandaging, applications of dressings and wound measurements. Specimen collections and Preparation such as collecting and labeling venous blood and samples, urine, stool, wound and mucous specimens. Patient transport such as transporting patients with cardiac monitor or assisting licensed staff with patients on cardiac monitoring, chest tube, or other complex medical support devices to and from diagnostic tests or between hospital units. The Inpatient Health Technician must possess the knowledge to recognize life threatening situations and act to correct these emergent situations according to established national or local protocols. The incumbent initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation Basic Life Support (BLS) and/or engages as member of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) team where appropriate according to American Heart Association. Applies non-sterile hot/cold compresses, packs, and soaks and utilizes equipment that provides heating or cooling as directed by provider. Positions, lifts (with appropriate device), turns, ambulates, and transfers patients as needed. Identifies the need for and appropriately applies supportive and protective devices and utilizes good body mechanics to accomplish tasks. Applies and removes simple sterile and non-sterile dressings, slings, ace bandages, and elastic stockings. Assists with airway management using pulse oximetry, capnometry, capnography, or other secondary confirmation methods to confirm correct placement of airway device(s) per national and local policies and procedures. Completes unit rounds and patient safety checks. Completes hazardous items checks of unit, patients, and their belongings. Performs one-to-one observations of patients. Assisting with patient exams and screening. Examples: orthostatic vital signs, 6-minute walk assessment, CAM and fall risk. May provide support, relief, and coverage as needed to central telemetry station. Mental health care such as crisis intervention, performs behavioral/mental health screens, conduction interviews, and observes behavioral patients. Assists licensed personnel in behavioral/psychiatric situations such management of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients, providing one-to-one observations and applying prevention and management of disruptive behavior techniques (PMDB). Receives and directs patients, answers routine inquiries and makes referrals. Assists patients in contacting volunteer or social services as needed. Obtains release forms. Assists patients, visitors and others requesting information, guidance or referral for special assistance. Documents all observations and interventions appropriately in Electronic Health Record. Notifies licensed personnel of any observations outside of normal. Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 0630-1700 with rotating days off. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician, 12976-A, 12975-A Physical Requirements: The work involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients. Generally, the work requires recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients. Must be able to lift and/or move heavy objects over 45 pounds. Must be able to carry objects over 40 pounds for distances of at least 200 feet. 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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. This Health Aid and Technician Series, 0640, has individual occupational requirements, as described below: Individual Occupational Requirements: Specialized Experience: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Having knowledge of human anatomy. Possessing knowledge to recognize life threatening situations and acting to correct them. Assisting with patient exams and screening. Assisting licensed personnel in behavioral/psychiatric situations. Providing clerical administrative support coordination. Maintaining records/charts. Answering phones and directing phone calls to appropriate person/area. GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Performing patient screening; observing and communicating with patients and visitors; performing specimen collection; assisting with patient exams; performing vital signs and wound care. 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

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.

Contacts

• Address VA SALT LAKE CITY HCS 500 Foothill Drive Salt Lake City, UT 84148 US
• Name: Dana Simmons
• Phone: 504-377-6420
• Email: [email protected]