Summary

The VA New Jersey Health Care System is recruiting a Intermittent Medical Instrument Technician Hemodialysis located in East Orange - New Jersey.

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:

• Education
• There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels
• See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English Grade Determinations: Basic Developmental Levels GS-4:Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant - practical nursing - or similar fields
• The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR - Education
• Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities1
• Knowledge of basic medical terminology.2
• Ability to learn the components - operating characteristics - and settings of the equipment to be used.3
• Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress.4
• Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted.5
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing
• GS-5 Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR - Education
• Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation - or] a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities 1
• Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions.2
• Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment.3
• Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities.4
• Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures.5
• Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble - clean - reassemble - and calibrate the machine
• GS-6 Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities1
• Skill in setting up - operating - and performing calibrations as required on a variety of dialysis equipment.2
• Skill in performing and interpreting test results (dialysate chemistries - water treatment testing for contaminates - etc.) including the ability to analyze deviations from the expected norm and responding appropriately.3
• Knowledge of American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AMMI) standards and unit policies as they relate to water treatment.4
• Knowledge of physiological and psychological changes and conditions related to end stage renal disease.5
• Ability to calculate dialysis baths according to the physician's orders per patient by mixing critical concentrates - i.e. - calcium - potassium - and bicarbonate.6
• Knowledge of Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS)
• Certification
• No certification is required
• however - it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification
• GS-7 Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• This would be experience which provided knowledge the equipment - standard procedures - and typical machine problems and/or patient reactions to treatment
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities1
• Ability to assist the physician in more complex procedures such as central venous catheter insertion.2
• Ability to assist in training patients in home/self-care by teaching components of machine operation including water treatment and monitoring patients for compliance.3
• Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians.4
• Ability to analyze deviations from the expected - determine whether the deviations are machine or patient related - and respond according to the findings
• Certification
• No certification is required
• however - it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications
• GS-8 Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• This would be experience which provided knowledge of the more complex procedures - the pharmacology related to this occupation - and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities1
• Knowledge of the hemodialysis process and equipment needed for home/self care including knowledge of common machine problems and repairs to such equipment.2
• Knowledge of the equipment and procedures for peritoneal dialysis.3
• Ability to assist the physician with percutaneous renal biopsies and peritoneal catheter insertion.4
• Ability to provide instruction to dialysis patients in home/self care and in the maintenance of the equipment.5
• Ability to provide instruction for physicians - nurses - and other personnel in dialysis procedures - equipment operation and maintenance - etc
• Certification
• No certification is required
• however - it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications Preferred Experience: 5+ years of hemodialysis experience - Water Treatment System (RO) experience - CCHT Certification preferred
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 8
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS 4/5/6/7/ to GS 8

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Performs and demonstrates all knowledge - skills - & abilities of the MIT-hemodialysis technician
• Assembles all necessary supplies and equipment at chair side
• Prepares and dismantles extracorporeal blood circuits and the dialysis machines to create a sterile - air-free blood circuit using a standard aseptic procedure
• Verifies dialysis baths according to physician's orders and records process according to unit policy
• Establishes amount of fluid to be removed and sets the machine accordingly
• Preforms routine cannulation on patients with established grafts and fistulas and initiates dialysis
• Assures pre-dialysis assessment is performed by RN prior to the start of treatment
• Inspects and evaluates the vascular access site pre & post treatment
• Cleans & dresses access dressing using sterile tech
• Obtains blood specimens for routine or special tests utilizing the vascular access
• Independently provides hemodialysis treatment to patients with renal failure - initiates and terminates dialysis treatment following standard procedure
• Monitors dialysis treatment assuring documentation of treatment process
• Assures that all treatment deviations are promptly reported to the RN
• Monitors and records dialysis treatment parameters - e.g. - vital signs - weight loss
• Adjusts blood flow rates and dialysis flow rates as ordered
• Work Schedule: 7a-530p and 6a-430p Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Virtual: This is not a virtual position.