Health Technician

Veterans Health Administration; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterans Health Administration at VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is seeking a Health Technician to support perioperative care. You will perform EKGs, monitor patients, assist with routine care, and transport patients across units under RN supervision.

The role requires strong patient-facing skills, safety awareness, and effective communication with the care team in a fast-paced surgical environment.

Qualifications

• This position requires submitting a transcript with your application.
• If using foreign education to meet qualifications, you must provide a Foreign Equivalency certificate.
• Education recognized by the U.S. Department of Education may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

Responsibilities

• Performs 12-lead EKGs and prints results for physician review.
• Applies cardiac monitor electrodes and initiates monitoring under RN direction.
• Assists with personal care, transfers, and ensuring patient privacy.
• Transports patients pre- and post-operatively between units and wards.
• Maintains safe patient handling and clean, stocked work areas.
• Responds to call lights and communicates patient needs to RN/Charge Nurse.

Skills

EKG

Cardiac monitoring

Patient care

Safety observation

Interpersonal communication

Tools

CPRS

Glucometer

Job description

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This position is within the Department of Veteran's Affairs, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS), located in the surgery service department. This position reports to the nurse manager of the same day procedure unit (SDPU), ambulatory surgery unit (ASU), and the post anesthesia care unit (PACU).

Key Responsibilities

Duties of a Health Technician include but are not limited to: Patient Care Task Performs 12 lead EKGs and gives printout to RN to provide to physician. Applies cardiac monitor electrodes + leads and initiates cardiac monitoring under direction of assigned RN or Charge Nurse. Performs or assists RN with personal care, such as body and oral hygiene, dressing/undressing, and toileting/elimination-ensuring patient privacy at all times. Assist RN in patient care.

The incumbent will be required to assist in patient care as directed to include but not limited to dressing changes, turning, and positioning of patients, postmortem care and morgue transfers. Assists with transfers and ambulation of patients. Provides direct observation for both suicidal/homicidal patients, as well as those patients requiring direct observation for safety (e.g., fall or elopement risk).

Answer call lights and communicates patients' needs to assigned RN or Charge Nurse. Collects and sends routine urine, stool, and sputum specimens from ASU/PACU/SDPU. Performs glucometer checks and notifies assigned RN or provider of results. Answers call lights and communicates patients' needs to assigned RN or Charge Nurse. Answers call lights and communicates patients' needs to assigned RN or Charge Nurse.

Weighs patients on electronic or bed scales and records weight in CPRS vital signs package. Assists clinicians with procurement and set-up of equipment and supplies for procedures. Usage of safe patient handling and movement portable and ceiling lift equipment.

Transportation of Patients Responsible for supporting the surgical service line staff by transporting the patient pre- and post-operatively between the waiting rooms and inpatient areas to the same day procedure unit, post anesthesia care unit and ambulatory surgery units. This employee must identify the patient utilizing the patient's arm band and verifying identification confirming full name and social security number.

Personal contact with the patient and their family and/or significant other(s) and at this time offers reassurance and emotional and physical support. Reports any observations and measures taken in any given emergency. Performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing the comfort and spirit of the patient.

Identifies and reports data relative to more complex patient situations including changes in patients' behavior or condition Provide a superior level of customer service. Demonstrate compassion and understanding to family members accompanying surgical patients. Use appropriate channels of communication and assist internal and external customers to navigate through the perioperative process.

Secure necessary methods of transportation (wheelchairs, litters, beds, transmotion chairs) to be available on the unit as needed. Clean, according to RME SOP, wheelchairs, litters and trasmotion chairs upon patient discharge to be available for the nextpatient. Dress all litters and transmotion chairs with appropriate covering and necessary patient items (gown, slippers, belonging bag, and bouffant cap) to be available for the next patient.

Cleaning/ Stocking Supplies/ Equipment Support Incumbent must perform non-technical maintenance and routine unit safety checks (maintenance of equipment, battery change of rechargeable equipment, refrigerator and blanket warmer temperature checks, and unit maintenance logs). Incumbent must perform routine non-critical reusable medical equipment cleaning permanufacturer guidelines and RME SOP.

Incumbent must stock rooms, carts, cabinets withall necessary supplies, check for outdates while stocking. Cleans vacated rooms of patients (i.e., strips linens, discards used or opened medicalsupplies, properly disposes of biohazardous waste). Notifies Charge Nurse immediately if unsecured medications are found anywhere in thedepartment. Stock units with supplies from SPDU/ASU/PACU supply room. Notifies the CN when supplies are running low and need to be re-ordered.

Maintains a clean working and uncluttered environment as directed, to include but notlimited to utility room, bedside and specialty carts. Reviews for expired stocks and supplies and restock in areas such as specialty carts and cleanutility rooms. Obtains and delivers supplies from SPD and device from Bio-med as needed. Performs daily calibration checks for glucometer. Reports discrepancies to CN.

Work Schedule:6:00am-2:30pm, 8am-4:30pm, 10:00am-6:30pm Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements & 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $50264 – $65343/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-15.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Public' hiring path.