Health Technician

Summary

This position is assigned to the Nursing Service 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.

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Overview

• Accepting applications

• Open & closing dates

06/14/2024 to 06/28/2024

• Salary

$49,249 - $64,026 per year

• Pay scale & grade

GS 6

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Location

2 vacancies in the following location:

• Chicago, IL

• Remote job

No

• Telework eligible

No

• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed

No

• Appointment type

Permanent

• Work schedule

Full-time

• Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential

6

• Job family (Series)

0640 Health Aid And Technician

• Supervisory status

No

• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test

Yes

• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

• Trust determination process

Suitability/Fitness

• Announcement number

CAZP-12429839-24-GL

• Control number

795886900

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This job is open to

• Internal to an agency

Current federal employees of this agency.

Clarification from the agency

Current permanent employees of the Jesse Brown VA Medical center to include all affiliated CBOC's, HCC's and VCS.

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Duties

Major Duties at the full-performance level GS-6: 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. Specific duties include but are not limited to:

• Performs a variety of procedures that includes collecting, labeling, and recording for proper analysis.

• Collects a variety of samples, such as sputum or urine samples, and conduct simple tests.

• Performs vital signs such as temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure, etc.

• Uses sterilization methods to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

• Provides competent educational instructions to patient on personal hygiene, proper self-aftercare and provides emotional support and understanding.

• Performs 12-lead EKG and has skill in operating, maintaining, and performing quality checks of finger stick glucose instruments and EKG machines.

• Performs intravenous catheter lines.

• Assists the clinician in the set up for various procedures such as insertion of central venous catheter, chest tube insertion, or suturing of lacerations.

• Clearly explains procedures to patients.

• Communicates and assists customers, visitors, and staff in a courteous and professional manner.

• Maintains a safe, clean, and orderly work environment through routine maintenance activities.

• Practices correct infection control techniques.

• Maintains and stores medical supply items and or equipment.

• Identifies patients using 2 identifiers prior to performing procedures.

• Observes and reports on simple reactions and changes to Clinician.

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: 2 shifts available

• 1 position @ Full-time, 8am

• 4:30pm Monday

• Friday. 1 position @ Full-time, 8:30am

• 5:00pm Monday

• Friday

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD24104A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job

• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

• You may be required to serve a probationary period

• Subject to background/security investigation

• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, facility applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. Non-facility applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/28/2024.

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.

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-06 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.

In addition, to the Individual Occupational Requirement above the follow is the experience or education required to qualify for this position at the GS-6 grade levels.

GS-06 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): Proficient in performing phlebotomy; experience taking and recording vital signs; proven ability to operate specialized equipment and instruments such as pulse ox meter, blood pressure, pulse, temperature, scale, height, EKG, etc.; collecting and recording sputum or urine samples; working with equipment, diagnostic, and treatment procedures commonly used in the nursing service; experience in positions that required knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology; performing a variety of procedures that include collecting, labeling, and recording for proper analysis; using 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.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)

• Infection Control

• Patient Care

• Technical 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.

Physical Requirements: The work involves periods of standing as well as considerable walking, bending, stooping, stretching, lifting (not to exceed 20 lbs.), moving of equipment and assists with positioning of patients. The work also requires agility and d3exeterity to handle complex medical instruments.

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 protective gowns, gloves, masks, and eyewear.

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

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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• Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window

Learn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.