The VA New Jersey Healthcare System is recruiting a GS-0640-6 Health Technician (Acute Care) at the East Orange, NJ campus. The primary purpose of the position is to perform routine clinical procedures and tasks for which the incumbent has been deemed competent that do not require the judgement of a licensed health care professional. The incumbent functions under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse and is responsible to the Nurse Manager in the assigned clinical area.

Duties

The incumbent functions as a member of an interdisciplinary team in the acute inpatient acute and critical care setting. The incumbent may be trained in new procedures within scope and then assume duties as required to support clinical operations and patient care. Clinical Activities - 90%Operates and supports providers and Registered Nurses in designated clinical area using diagnostic and therapeutic medical instruments/equipment including Electrocardiogram, Spirometry, Visual Acuity Screening, and Bladder scan according to established procedures and with documented competency. Locates and sets up equipment needed for complex diagnostic procedures. Operates, calibrates, and maintains medical instruments or equipment. Monitors and plans equipment inventory, routine equipment maintenance, and serves as a unit resource for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of non-critical, semi-critical, and critical Reusable Medical Devices. Demonstrates leadership in advocating patient safety and educate multidisciplinary staff in assigned area on RMD. Supports health and medical staff during diagnosis and treatment of patients. Gathers screening data on patients admitted to the hospital to include fall risk, allergies, current medications, homelessness, abuse, means and mode of arrival, danger to self or others, and exposure to communicable diseases. Recognizes and informs appropriate multidisciplinary health care team of deviations from baseline screening parameters. Performs phlebotomy in designated areas. Applies basic splints and performs dressing changes in designated areas. Performs Point of Care testing using glucometer devices according to established unit procedures and with competency validation. Educates other HT staff and serves as the expert resource in specialized equipment/supply maintenance, operation, and quality assurance monitoring. Performs 1:1 patient observation according to policy. Performs TMO monitoring as assigned. May be designated as a Rapid Response Team member when assigned to the ICU. Assisting patients with swallowing disorders with meals, bowel and bladder hygiene and assisting patients with oral/bath hygiene. Specimen collection procedures and point of care testing. Additional clinical duties as assigned. Personal Patient Care. The HT performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing the comfort and spirit of the patient including transporting patients via wheelchair or gurney, and/or accompanies ambulatory patients who need assistance to various areas within the hospital including clinics, diagnostic areas, and treatment areas. The HT performs simple personal care duties such as bathing and demonstrates nursing standards for patient hygiene including bathing, oral, nail, and hair care. The HT assists patients with toileting needs, providing incontinent care. The HT performs basic nursing care that requires knowledge of standardized procedures such as performance of active/passive range-of-motion activities, ensuring that catheters and oxygen cannula are maintained intact, etc. Applies protective devices such as body holders/vests, soft restraints, padded mitts, side rails, etc. Identifies physical, social, psychological, and cultural needs of patients by applying relevant growth and development processes specific to the age of the patient. Takes care of patient's non routine care and comfort needs for psychological/social/spiritual wellbeing, personal hygiene, physical comfort, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, rehabilitation, safety, etc. Identifies and reports data relative to more complex patient situations including subtle changes in patients' behavior or condition, or variances related to neurological signs, vital signs, and other parameters. Administrative Duties - 10 % Schedules procedures, provider evaluations, and coordinates appointments with other services. Documentation and Record Keeping. The HT performs administrative tasks and manages medical support functions for clinic or practice such as maintaining control records for specimens and tests and documenting measurements taken. Initiating work orders and following up to ensure the work is complete. Documents treatments and procedures that they have conducted in the electronic medical record. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time, 730a-4p/330p-12a/12a-8a with rotation Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: TMO Acute Care Health Technician/PD39018A 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 and provide all application documents by the closing date of this announcement, 02/16/2024. Documents submitted after the closing date will not be accepted. 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. Selective Placement Factor: Proof of competed training: AvaSure TeleSitter Course and VANJHCS Health Technician Training Course 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 of basic anatomy and physiology Skill taking vital sign measurements, documenting deviations, and reporting results and recovery-oriented care Ability to assist patients safely, including patient handling Knowledge of infection control practices Knowledge of Direct Line of Sight procedures Knowledge of emergency situations such as cardiopulmonary failure, hemorrhaging, and shock and how to assist in the performance of resuscitation measures. Knowledge of lead placement for 12 lead electrocardiogram and telemetry monitoring, monitor alarm parameters, operation, and maintenance of cardiopulmonary and electrocardiogram equipment. Pulse oximetry monitoring, peak flow measurement, and incentive spirometry. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and ManagementTechnical CompetenceTechnical Problem Solving 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 position includes physical exertion such as regular and recurring walking, stooping, bending, reaching, and lifting of equipment and supplies. The incumbent must be able to lift 35 lbs., perform the following: pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulders and laterally, use of fingers, both hands, arm, and legs, sitting, walking, and standing for long periods of time. He/She must also be able to hear whispered voices (with or without a hearing aid), kneeling, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental/muscular coordination simultaneously, visual requirements for monitoring, observation, depth perception, and ability to distinguish shades of color. 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 VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Allysa Getman
• Phone: 680-322-5685
• Email: [email protected]