Health Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in San Diego seeks a Health Technician to perform direct patient care tasks under RN supervision in progressive care/ICU/ED settings, supporting nurses and physicians.

The incumbent will perform non-invasive ECGs, spirometry, POC testing, and basic nursing care, while adhering to infection control and safety protocols. BLS and emergency preparedness training is required.

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience at the GS-05 level or equivalent in health support or related field.

Responsibilities

• Supports professional, licensed providers with ECG, spirometry, visual acuity screenings, and bladder scans according to procedures.
• Performs Point of Care testing using glucometer and CLIA-waived devices.
• Documents treatments and telemetry data in the EMR.
• Assists in procedures and care of critically ill and emergent patients.
• Performs Basic Life Support and responds to emergencies including activation of codes when needed.
• Maintains infection control practices and safe patient handling.
• Performs nursing tasks such as personal care and routine patient hygiene.

Skills

ECG interpretation

Telemetry monitoring

Vital signs

Infection control

Patient transfer

BLS

Emergency response

Nursing assistance

Education

Bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours related to the position

Tools

None

Job description

Summary

The HT position performs direct patient care tasks and clinical procedures that do not require the judgment of a licensed health care professional within VA SD facility. It functions day to day under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse (RN) and reports to the Nurse Manager in the assigned clinical area for administrative and overall technical supervision. It functions as a member of an interdisciplinary team in a progressive care - critical care - and/or emergency department setting.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. This position has an Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR). You must meet the following: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists - speech pathologists - medical officers - and optometrists. Therefore - technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. OR - For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree - with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. In addition to meeting the IOR above - you must meet the experience/education as described below: GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-XX grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled - in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. OR - Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-05 level. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree - with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. OR - Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 level. To calculate - first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting - you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-05. For example - an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled - in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Knowledge of anatomy and physiology to include location and function of major body organs and structures - as well as familiarity with medical terminology - common diseases - disorders and related conditions; medications and contraindications. Technical knowledge of Cardiac rhythm interpretation - skill in lead placement for 12 Lead electrocardiogram and telemetry monitoring - monitor alarm parameters - operation and maintenance of cardiopulmonary and electrocardiogram equipment. Ability to take vital sign measurements - identify deviation from norms - documentation requirements - and procedure for reporting results in both routine and emergent situations. Ability to recognize common life-threatening emergencies and ability to provide initial response; knowledge of emergency situations such as cardiopulmonary failure - hemorrhaging - and shock and how to perform and/or assist in the performance of resuscitation measures. Ability to provide for safe patient handling including patient transfers and transportation by wheel chair and/or gurney. Knowledge of infection control practices - aseptic techniques - and universal precautions to protect patient and self from contamination. OR - Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-06 level. Successfully completed a Graduate education or internship where it is directly related to the work of the position. OR - Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-06 level. Preferred Experience: Formal ECG education and training required. 3-5 years of experience as nursing assistant in acute care setting within the last 5 years required. Current BLS and emergency preparedness training required. Actively involved in unit wide safety - unit based committee. 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.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: Supports professional - licensed providers - both nurses and physicians in designated clinical area using diagnostic and therapeutic medical instruments and equipment to perform non-invasive Electrocardiograms - Spirometry tests - Visual Acuity Screenings - and Bladder Scans according to established procedures
• Performs Point of Care (POC) testing using glucometer and I-Stat devices and CLIA-waived testing as authorized - according to established unit procedures
• Documents treatments - procedures - and/or telemetry identification conducted by the incumbent in the electronic medical record
• Prepares and sets up equipment - etc. - for procedures performed by licensed providers - including laceration repair - chest tube insertion - lumbar puncture - etc
• Assists professional - licensed providers - including nursing staff and physicians - in the care and treatment of the critically ill and those with emergent needs
• Reports observations of the condition of acute or chronic phase patients such as excessive vomiting - bleeding - type and amount of drainage
• deviation in baseline cardiac rhythm - pulse - skin tone and integrity - respiration - temperature - blood pressure - protection and patency of airway
• changes in wounds and reaction to treatments per protocol
• Identifies life-threatening dysrhythmias
• activates the appropriate codes and/or steps required to call for definitive help
• initiates appropriate action according to established procedures
• Performs Basic Life Support - including the operation of the Automated External Defibrillator (or equivalent)
• Responds to emergency mental health situations - where danger of physical attack by patients requires special training
• Performs simple personal care duties such as bathing
• demonstrates nursing standards for patient hygiene including bathing - oral - nail - and hair care
• Performs basic personal nursing care that requires knowledge of standardized procedures such as performance of active/passive range-of-motion activities - ensuring that catheters and oxygen cannula - etc. - remain intact
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Various schedule may include 7:00am to 3:30pm - or 11:00am to 7:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD12144A Physical Requirements: None
• Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.