This position is for a Health Technician in the Nursing Service (Emergency Department) at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. This position is covered by NAGE bargaining unit. Per the NAGE Master Agreement, the Area of Consideration will be: 1st Area of Consideration: Current permanent Facility (including satellites) employees. 2nd Area of Consideration: Current permanent VA employees (including VEOA Status). 3rd Area of Consideration: All other Status candidates.

Duties

Major duties and responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following: Start and discontinue IVs, collect blood samples, collect urine samples, obtain point of care blood glucose and point of care blood tests. Works and communicates with Registered Nurses, Doctors, and other medical and ancillary staff. Using computerized charting and computer systems as well as paper documentation. Initiate cardiac monitoring and obtain and recognize EKGs. Assist providers with specialized exams and procedures. Monitor mental health patients and document observations. Lift, move, transfer and transport patients as needed. Meets the needs of the Veteran and family and provide information and assistance and always treats the Veteran and family with respect. 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. Work Schedule: 11:00 AM to 11:30 PM and 07:00 PM to 07:30 AM shifts available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD00022A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): 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, 09/12/2023. 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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. 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. GS-06 Determination: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: performing both clerical and clinical duties in a medical/healthcare environment; answering and directing phone calls; scheduling appointments; documenting medical records; taking and recording vital signs; and collecting and labeling specimens. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed one-half year of GRADUATE level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position and is directly related to the work of the position. 9 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one-half year of full-time study requirement. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education at the graduate level. GS-07 Determination: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Obtain and document patients' vital signs and setting up and using electronic thermometers, vital sign measurement equipment, and pulse oximetry; Perform venipuncture to obtain serum blood samples according to policy and procedures; Assisting with preparation of patients designated for admission including separation, securing and inventory of clothing/valuables; Perform sterile dressing changes, ace bandage application, suture removal, and application of heat/cold; Assisting with teaching patients self-care at home.. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed one (1) year of GRADUATE level education that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position and is directly related to the work of the position. 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education at the graduate level. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Patient Care Teamwork Infection Control Emergency Care Specimen Collection Critical Thinking Computer Skills Knowledge Management First Response Preferred Experience: Previous work as an Emergency Department Tech, Paramedic, or EMT. 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 the Health Technician to be mobile throughout the Emergency Department and medical center as needed, involving standing, walking, bending, pushing, and lifting (moderately heavy). The Health Technician should be capable of prolonged standing/ walking and be physically capable of pushing equipment, wheelchairs and patient stretchers. 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

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 Ralph H Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 109 Bee Street Charleston, SC 29401 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]