The position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6), VA Medical Center, in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS), Hampton, VA. Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical device (RMD). Medical Supply Technicians (MSTs) receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

Duties

The duties described in this announcement are at the full performance level. If selected at a lower grade, you may not be responsible for all of the listed duties. Duties: Responsible for sterile preparation which is accomplished through inspection, assembly, packaging, and terminal sterilization of all trays, sets, and packs for use throughout the facility. Assemblies range from simple sets of four or five instruments to very complex sets of up to ninety instruments such as Total joint sets, femoral vascular, radical nephrectomy, abdominal vascular, chest sets, thoracic, orthopedic implant sets, carotid vascular, general surgery sets, etc. Assembles delicate micro-surgical sets such as micro-surgical ear set. ENT plastic set for procedures requiring plastic surgery, micro-surgical eye instruments, and other surgical specialties. Assembles and selects the correct sterilizing method for a variety of costly and delicate equipment such as flexible resectoscopes and other flexible and rigid endoscopes. Tests instruments for functionality and assembles instruments in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines. Selects appropriate methods for sterilizing, balancing time constraints with possible detrimental effects of quicker methods. Independently prepares the full range of trays and sets necessary to be used in the wards, clinic areas, dental clinic and surgery. Considers surgery schedules and Clinic schedules along with considering time factors for processing order to determine how many items to stock based on the turnaround time for processing, preparation and frequency of use. Effectively processes and sterilizes a wide variety of implant devices in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations, and ensure that they are held for the required time post sterilization per regulations. Responsible for the collection and receipt of all used soiled supplies, instruments, or equipment. Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing and use of ultrasonic equipment. Assumes leadership responsibilities to perform peer training as well as provide user training and instruction pertaining to correct operating and preventative maintenance procedures of medical equipment. Identifies trends, recommends solutions, and implements quality improvement initiatives and program related activities related to program effectiveness. Regularly tests operations and cleaning of equipment for effectiveness of sterilization. The incumbent monitors performance of sterilizers for quality control by conducting bacteriological tests. Conforms to and ensures that all safety and infection control rules, regulations and requirements in the decontamination and preparation areas are followed by all personnel working in, or entering, the work area. Utilize knowledge and experience to react to requests for emergent and/or urgent RME supply needs ensuring positive outcomes. Utilize knowledge of equipment, its use, and specific procedures to respond to inquiries about the equipment and potential equipment substitutions. Utilize computers to perform record keeping, tracking operations. Processes emergent requests, prepares tray lists, and updates files as required. Conducts inventory of all sterilized trays checking package integrity and expiration dates. Work Schedule: Third Shift Rotating Schedule on a weekly basis. Week 1: Monday through Friday 11pm to 7:30am Week 2: Tuesday through Saturday 12am to 8:30am. Pull Call weekly on a rotating basis, during non-duty hours; Monday through Friday, Saturday, Sundays, and Holidays. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3g.) Experience and/or Education (1) Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or (2) Education. One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable. Certification. None. Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. (2) MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs. English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. GRADE REQUIREMENTS Creditable Experience Knowledge of Current MST Practices. To be creditable, the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with MST responsibilities. Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MST. Quality of Experience. Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MST experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher level duties must consist of significant scope, administrative independence, complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MST employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. Grade Determinations. The following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-03 (Entry Level)Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04 (Developmental Level) Experience. Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; or Education. Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. 2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets. 3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. 4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. GS-05 (Developmental Level) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. 2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility. 3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. 2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. 3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. 4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation. 5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83 PART II APPENDIX G47 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty, and poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The employee usually stands and moves from one part of the room to another while performing duties during the entire workday. There is frequent requirement for lifting supply tote bins, baskets or instruments sets weighing up to 50 pounds from the floor to chest level. The incumbent regularly pushes loaded instrument carts weighing as much as several hundred pounds. Tension and stress are induced by the critical nature of producing work results on a preestablished time frame as well as in emergent situations.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Hampton VA Medical Center 100 Emancipation Drive Hampton, VA 23667 US
• Name: Michael Schultz
• Phone: 804-274-9694
• Email: [email protected]