This position is assigned to the Nursing Service - Acute Care unit at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL and provides a varied range of supportive and direct care duties at the ward level in support of patient activities.

Duties

The Health Technician is a non-licensed member of the nursing care team and performs a wide range of direct and indirect patient care activities and related supportive services. This position provides clinical, administrative, technical, and direct patient care support. Specific duties include but are not limited to: Provides clinical and patient care support by obtaining vital signs, including pulse oximetry, glucose checks, perform 12 lead EKG readings, etc.

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

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Possession of current American Heart Association (AHA) and Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) is highly desirable and preferred. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series, and it is something that can't be waived. The IOR for the GS-05 grade level is: Experience: Experience that requires application of knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. This position is part of the series that range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as register nurse, physician, audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, optometrists, or other clinical staff. --OR-- Education: Successfully completion of 4 full year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the Health Technician position. This would include course work such as human anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, etc. Transcript(s) Required. In addition, to the Individual Occupational Requirement above the follow is the experience required to qualify for this position at the GS-6 grade level. Specialized Experience: One (1) full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skill, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the Health Technician position, and that is in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, this experience must have been equivalent to at least the GS-5 level in the Federal service to qualify at the Grade-6. Examples of specialized experience include (but are not limited to): Providing direct patient care; providing assistance while observing for signs of potential complications to patients; skill of monitoring EKGs of patients on telemetry at Central Station site; identifies arrhythmias and changes in EKG rhythms ; trouble-shoots machines, checks electrode attachments, contacts medical personnel, and calls codes; verifies alarm setting and performs alarm parameter adjustments with RN; documents EKG changes in patient's heart rhythm/rate in medical record; provides telemetry monitor, identify proper lead placement, and attaches electrodes; providing general clerical/administrative support coordination work in a medical unit; uses aseptic and sterilization techniques to prevent cross contamination and spread of infection; providing competent educational instructions to patients; and communicates and assists customers, visitors and staff in a courteous and professional manner. Note: As a general rule education is not qualifying in this occupation at the GS-6 grade level. Graduate level education or an internship may meet the specialized experience required above the GS-5 grade level only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the Health Technician position. If utilizing education or internship to qualify for this position, transcripts and or certification of internship must be provided with your application package. 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. Physical Demands: The work involves periods of prolonged extensive or considerable standing, walking or siting. Lifts, positions, pushed and/or transfers patients. Lifts supplies and equipment. Considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching. This statement is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. Work Environment: Involves regular and recurring exposure to infections and contagious diseases, as well as working with infectious substances, irritant reagents, and potentially emotionally disturbed patients. The technician is required to follow infection control policies relating to the use of universal precautions and posted isolation practices. These policies may require the wearing of special Personal Protective Equipment (eye and face protection, mask, lab coat, gown, hat, shoe covers, and sterile and non-sterile gloves) with occasional exposure to peroxyacetic acid, exposure to x-rays, exposure to blood and body fluids which are often infectious.

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 Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 820 South Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60612 US
• Name: Larry LaRoche
• Phone: 708-202-8387 X28161
• Email: [email protected]