The full performance, Critical Care Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) is assigned to the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This position serves as an advanced technician for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Step-down Unit, and/or Post-anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) for patients who are present for treatment.

Duties

Duties for this position include but are not limited to: Performs ongoing patient care duties in a critical care setting under the delegated authority of the supervising physician, licensed independent provider (LIP), and/or advanced practice provider (APP) assigned, credentialed, privileged and competent in the management and care of the patient. Performing observation-based screening, collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel. Obtaining patient health history, chief complaints, medication history, and information about health-related or high-risk conditions that may impact the patient's health status. Communicate with their supervising physicians, licensed independent provider (LIP), and advanced practice provider (APP) to provide collaborative, timely and appropriate patient care. Assists in behavioral/psychiatric situations within the critical care setting. This can include assisting licensed personnel with crisis intervention, assisting with observation and documentation of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients by providing one-to-one observations and applying Prevention and Management of Disruptive Behavior (PMDB) techniques. Assists critical care licensed personnel with the delivery of care to patients with complex, specialized, and potentially life-threatening situations. This may include setting up equipment and passing instruments in the event of defibrillation, cardioversions, insertion of chest drainage tubes, insertion of thoracostomy tubes, rapid sequence intubation, or initiation of mechanical ventilation to restore normal physiological function or prevent deterioration of patient's condition. Operates specialized medical equipment such as defibrillators, electrocardiographs, and oxygen apparatus in accordance with applicable training and standards. Assists with airway management equipment, such as, using bag-valve-mask (BVM), oral airway or nasal airway. provides support, relief, and coverage as needed to central telemetry station. The incumbent documents in the telemetry record and reports all observed electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in the patient's condition to the licensed staff. performs measurements of PR, QRS, QT, RR, and QTC intervals, interprets rhythm, labels and prints rhythm strip every 4-8 hours or as required for events, documents and informs appropriate staff. Incumbent retains competency in all cardiac rhythms and recognizes arrhythmias (i.e. ventricular fibrillation) and immediately notifies appropriate staff. Incumbent administratively admits, discharges, and assigns telemetry equipment to patients in central monitoring automated system. Work Schedule: Rotating, Nights and Weekends. Position Description Title/PD#: Intermediate Care Technician/PD99794S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Bargaining Unit Position: Yes - AFGE Physical Requirements: The work involves regular and recurring exposure to infection and contagious disease, known as Category I classification, based on exposure risk. Specific gloves, gowns, or masks are required as safety precautions. Observes, corrects, and reports safety hazards to the licensed staff. As part of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) or Code Blue team the incumbent may be exposed to all types of weather conditions, and face risks and discomforts at the scene of accidents, to include the possibility of noxious fumes and dangerous substances, requiring the employee to comply with special safety and health precautions and/or to use protective gear. The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being

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
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.In addition to meeting the English Language Proficiency, to qualify at the GS-07 level, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements. GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service); Specialized experience includes: recognizing life threatening situations and act to correct these emergent situations according to established national or local protocols; understanding the legal/ethical considerations of critical care (e.g., actual/implied consent, patient rights, advanced directives, etc); taking and recording diagnostic signs to perform patient evaluations and screenings; assisting in behavioral/psychiatric situations; and assisting licensed personnel with complex, specialized, and potentially-life threatening situations. OR, Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-07 level. You must have successfully completed one (1) year of graduate education related to the position at the next lower grade level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one (1) year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours will be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (COPY OF OFFICIAL OR UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR, Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-07 level. You must have equivalent combinations of creditable specialized experience and education as described above to meet the total experience requirements for the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. Only education beyond a one-half year (e.g. 6 months; 9 semester hours) of graduate level education may be used to qualify applicants for the GS-07 level. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. 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 VA Nebraska-Western Iowa HCS - Omaha 4101 Woolworth Avenue Omaha, NE 68105 US
• Name: Meghan Brooks
• Phone: 515-699-5999 X23402
• Email: [email protected]