The New Mexico VA Health Care System is searching for a Health Technician (HT) to serve within the Emergency Department.

Duties

Performance of Treatments and Procedures Performs peripheral and EJ venipuncture to initiate IV therapy. Changes sterile dressings, and performs wound cleaning and irrigation. Sets up, operates, and monitors medical equipment to include monitoring equipment, bladder scans, patient warming and cooling equipment, lifts, and oxygen and inhalation therapy. Applies external urinary devices such as condom catheters, and performs procedures including foley catheters placement and nasogastric tubes. Documents and reports results appropriately and accurately measures and records intake and output. Cleans used medical instruments as needed and disposes of waste materials while maintaining a clean, safe, and prepared environment. Checks and restocks equipment, supplies, and exam areas as assigned. Performance of Diagnostic Tests Performs EKG's and establishes continuous cardiac and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring for patients. Obtain and accurately label laboratory specimens including venipuncture and collection of bacteriologic specimens such as sputum, urine, feces, throat and wound cultures. Assists in the observation and monitoring of patients for signs of adverse reaction to medications and treatments, identifies subtle changes regarding patient condition, and reports observations to appropriate team members. Takes corrective action based on established policy and experience, Records results and ensures that documentation is part of medical record. Patient Care Provides support and reassurance. Secures the confidence and cooperation of patients to achieve desired results. Uses sound judgment to work with the RN staff to prioritize patients with acute medical needs and institute timely interventions. Assists in the extrication of unconscious, injured, or ill patients using correct emergency extrication and stabilization methods. Responds and assists in the management of patients who loses control of behavior and becomes harmful to himself and others. Cares for patients who require close observation and adapts care to meet physical and emotional needs. Provides decontamination of patient with correct utilization of personal protective equipment in hazardous material or toxic/infectious environments. Responds to emergency situations such as cardiopulmonary failure/distress, hemorrhaging, and shock by assisting in resuscitative measures. Provides complete personal hygiene, including bowel and bladder needs. Turns and positions patients to maintain proper body alignment. Lifts, ambulates, and transfers patients using proper body mechanics, equipment, and transfer techniques. Transfers patients via wheelchair or stretcher to other areas of the hospital for further care, admission, or diagnostic testing. Prepares patients for meals and feeds and assists those requiring help. Maintains a professional caring attitude when dealing with patients, their families, hospital health care providers and other departments Provides Clerical and Administrative Support Utilizes electronic patient tracking systems to maintain the register of patients presenting for care and their final disposition from the Emergency Department (ED). Schedules necessary tests, radiology examinations, coordinates activities and appointments for the ED avoiding conflicts in patient treatment plans. Receives telephone calls to the unit answering inquiries regarding services available and procedures for admission and directs calls to the appropriate party. Responsible for disassembly of the ED record upon disposition discharge home, admission, or inter-hospital transfer. Assures all administrative/compliance tasks are completed as assigned. E.g. temp and humidity monitoring, Eye wash stations, blanket warmers. Assists the department with Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement Program with clerical functions, data collection, and retrieval of data from patient records and EDIS. Orders and maintains supplies for the department. Attends and participates in in-services/training opportunities in order to plan high quality patient care. Utilizes the computer to electronically locate laboratory results, determine eligibility information, input patient data and encounters information, and retrieve patient information. Work Schedule: Rotating Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD10285A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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, 12/13/2023. 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. 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. You may qualify based on your experience 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: Knowledge and ability to react in emergency situations; Knowledge of anatomy, first aid and basic patient care; Ability to establish rapport and interview patients to collect information and data about current health status and immediate needs; Knowledge of basic disease and illness and skill sufficient to teach patients; Knowledge needed to perform therapeutic and diagnostic procedures including: EKGs, stationary and portable oxygen and suction equipment, lifting and transfer devices, glucose monitoring equipment, insertion drainage apparatus', and the proper storage of blood and body fluid specimens; Ability to communicate using tact and diplomacy, with the multidisciplinary health care team, patients, visitors, outside services to accomplish patient care services in the Emergency Department; Knowledge of the Privacy Act, HIPAA and its implications where confidentiality of patient records is entrusted. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)Diagnostic Medical TestingPatient 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: Good vision and hearing are required to collect patient data. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The work requires long periods of regular and recurring walking, standing, stooping, heavy lifting, bending, stretching, pushing, turning, and at times lifting heavy equipment or patients. The work requires the use of good body mechanics and stamina to withstand stress. Transporting patients to procedures is necessary. Must be able to effectively wear personal protective equipment. Exposure to chemicals including cleaning and decontamination solutions and powders. 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 Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: Jasmin Theodore
• Phone: 562-826-8000 X14362
• Email: [email protected]