The Intermediate Care Technician works at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) and is organizationally aligned under the Emergency Room, Specialty & Hospital Based Service. The position reports directly to the Nurse Manager of the Emergency Room.

Duties

These duties are not all inclusive and require the demonstration of appropriate training and documented competence prior to their unrestricted performance. All candidates must have current BLS and ACLS training before they begin working in the Emergency Department. The incumbent may assist with or perform other related technical health care procedures under the supervision of the Emergency Department Physicians as competency is demonstrated and documented. Duties include providing screenings and management of ambulatory patients seen in the Emergency Department. This may involve obtaining patient health history, chief complaints, medication history, and identification of health-related conditions that may impact the patient's health status. The incumbent will evaluate patients for emergency medical conditions, order appropriate diagnostic studies, and perform a wide range of treatment procedures under the direction of the supervising physician. Necessary interventions based upon patient symptoms and established protocols/standards of care should be part of the routine capabilities of this position. The incumbent also assists in behavioral/psychiatric situations to include crisis intervention, management of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients, and one-to-one observations. The incumbent also assists Emergency Department Physicians with complex, specialized, and potentially life-threatening procedures such as defibrillation, cardioversions, insertion of chest drainage tubes, or initiation of mechanical ventilation to restore normal physiological function or prevent deterioration of patient's condition. The incumbent must independently recognize life threatening situations and act to correct these according to established national or facility protocols. Performs airway management using BIPAP and advanced airway techniques, including the use of LMA and oral intubations using laryngoscope if properly trained, credentialed and privileged may be included as responsibilities. This requires understanding in the use of pulse oximetry, capnometry, capnography, or other secondary confirmation methods to ensure correct placement of emergency advanced airway devices. Operates specialized medical equipment such as defibrillators, electrocardiographs, and oxygen apparatus. Observes patient status and keeps physician informed of any change or need for additional treatment.Additional duties include dressing changes, wound management, suture removal, repair of simple lacerations, Foley catheters insertion, splint, binder and bandage applications, and performance of tracheotomy care. Specimen collection, preparation and transfer to the lab for processing of blood, tissue, urine, stool, and sputum is expected to be a routine part of his/her practice. Monitors and obtains test results as soon as available and informs physicians promptly to facilitate patient care. Additional duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Respond to medical emergencies on the facility grounds, and sometimes encounters situations which may be life threatening as part of the Rapid Response Team (RRT). Works with other members of the RRT to evaluate the situation and the patient, to determine the nature, extent, and seriousness of the patient's condition, including the search for medical alert symbols and medications. Administer medications under the supervision of a physician, nurse, or other authorized health provider. Conducts or assists with the training of personnel in CPR, basic, and advanced emergency medical care techniques if appropriately trained and qualified. Can conduct or assist with stand-downs, community health programs, blood pressure and glucose screenings, flu immunizations, etc. Patient Transport: May transport monitored and unmonitored patients to diagnostic procedures and/or inpatient units. The incumbent performs triage duties as assigned. In this situation, the incumbents need to have expertise in the use of the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage tool or be trained in its use prior to conducting triage evaluations. Other duties as assigned by management. Work Schedule: Varies, with alternating weekends & holidays Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Intermediate Care Technician (Nursing Services)/PD00062-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized 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, 11/28/2023. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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. Must meet the Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR) - 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. In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement, an applicant must meet the Minimum Qualifications below: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: Assists licensed staff with preparing patients for medical evaluation, setting up equipment, passing instruments and providing treatment during in person or virtual visits; Possess the knowledge to recognize life threatening situations and act to correct these emergent situations according to established national or local protocols; Thoroughly and continually documents actions, interventions and patient response in the health record. Administration methods may include intramuscular, oral, topical, eye drops, ear drops, intranasal, rectal suppositories, local anesthetics, nebulized medications, subcutaneous, and intradermal; Follows national and local pharmacy and facility guidelines for disposal of medications You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Oral CommunicationPatient CareTechnical Competence 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 involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients. Generally, the work requires recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients. 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

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Contacts

• Address Palo Alto VA Medical Center 3801 Miranda Avenue Palo Alto, CA 94304 US
• Name: Yesenia Nery
• Phone: 910-488-2120 X1273
• Email: [email protected]