Intermediate Care Technician (CORE)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Eureka (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking an Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) to support multiple clinical settings at VA Medical Centers.

The role focuses on crisis intervention, patient observation, medication administration, and precise EHR documentation, in collaboration with licensed personnel. Ideal candidates bring experience with emergency response, triage, and a strong understanding of clinical workflows.

Qualifications

• English language proficiency is required for direct patient care.
• GS-07 level requires one year of specialized experience or graduate education related to the position.
• Experience includes crisis intervention, med prep, EHR documentation, and fast response in emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Assist in clinical activities across settings including Emergency, Critical Care, and Primary Care.
• Observe patient status and inform licensed staff of changes in condition.
• Complete clinical reminders, health history collection, and documentation in EHR.
• Assist in emergency care and rapid-response activities; provide one-to-one observation when needed.
• Prepare and administer medications and assist with minor procedures as directed.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Aggressive/psychiatric patient care

CPR and AED protocols

Electronic Health Record documentation

Medical instrument preparation

Intramuscular/intravenous/various meds

Vital signs collection

Clinical observation and triage

Team collaboration with licensed staff

Education

One year of specialized experience (GS-06)

One year of graduate education related to work

Tools

Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems

CPR/AED equipment

Job description

Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) Program is a program designed to hire transitioning service - National Guard - Reserve - and Veteran corpsmen - combat medics and medical technicians into positions at VA Medical Centers as an integral part of the medical team. Candidates generally qualify based on U.S. Armed Forces experience or equivalent education.

Summary

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) Program is a program designed to hire transitioning service - National Guard - Reserve - and Veteran corpsmen - combat medics and medical technicians into positions at VA Medical Centers as an integral part of the medical team. Candidates generally qualify based on U.S. Armed Forces experience or equivalent education.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. English Language Proficiency: Individuals serving in direct patient care positions must be proficient in [both] spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - and 7407(d). GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 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:

• Assisting with crisis intervention - management of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients and prevention and management of disruptive behavior.
• Preparation of medical and surgical instrumentation - setting up equipment - passing instruments - and collecting specimens.
• Knowledge of response to life threatening situations and protocols - utilizing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and external defibrillator protocols.
• Treatment and interventions of Cryotherapy - incision and drainage - ambulation and Foley coude' Catheter insertion.
• Thorough and appropriate Electronic Health Record documentation.
• Intramuscular medication administration.
• Prepare and administer medications through various methods - examples include - intramuscular injections - subcutaneous injections - intradermal injections - oral - aerosolized including oxygen - topical - intraocular (eye drops) - Otic (ear drops) - intranasal - rectal (suppositories) - local anesthetics - intraurethral - and intravenous.
• Perform minor surgical procedures - medical interventions and administer treatments to manage care to combat disease or disabling symptoms example incise and drain various skin infections or abscesses.
• Order appropriate diagnostic studies under the direction of the supervising Licensed Independent Practitioner (LIP) obtains and Reports Diagnostic and laboratory results.

OR Education: One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. (Transcripts Required). Knowledge - Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Practical knowledge of major body systems Working knowledge of topographic anatomy Working knowledge of diagnostic signs Knowledge of protocol-approved list of medications Working knowledge of emergency medicine techniques and emergency communication Knowledge sufficient to understand the legal considerations of emergency medicine Working knowledge of acute and chronic mental health conditions and crises

Preferred Qualifications: Experience in the military as a Hospital Corpsman - Combat Medic - Medical Technician is highly desired. Examples of military occupational specialties highly desired - include but are not limited to:

• 4NOX- Basic Medical Technician
• 4NOIC- Independent Duty Medical Technician
• X4NO- Aeromedical Evacuation Technician
• 1T2X1- Pararescueman
• 68W- Combat Medic Specialist
• 18D- Army Special Forces (Medic)
• 68WW1- Special Operations Flight Medic
• HM0000- Basic Hospital Corpsman
• HM8404- Field Medical Service Technician
• HM8425- Surface Force Independent Duty Corpsman
• HM8402- Submarine Force Independent Duty Corpsman
• HM8401- Search and Rescue Medical Technician
• HM8403- Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Independent Duty Corpsman
• HM8406- Aerospace Medical Technician
• HS- Basic Health Services Technician

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

• This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT
• The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be December 29 - 2026 and applicants will be referred on an 'as needed' basis
• NOTE: This posting will remain open until no longer needed but no later than December 29 - 2026
• VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package
• https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2022/12/Total-Reward-of-a-Allied-Health-Professions-VA-Career-11-4-2022.pdf The Intermediate Care Technician is an occupational specialty - especially for former military combat medics - medical technicians - and corpsmen
• As an ICT - you will operate within clearly defined clinical competencies
• For the purposes of this national job announcement - you may work in multiple clinical settings based on facility needs - these include but are not limited to - Emergency Medicine - Critical Care - Primary Care - Specialty Clinics - Women's health and COVID Screening - Swabbing Stations - and Vaccine Operations
• The clinical activities for the hospital will include but is not limited to: Performing observation-based screening and collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel - this may involve completing clinical reminders - obtaining patient health history - chief complaints - medication history - and identification of health- related conditions that may impact the patient's health status
• Completing approved templates and tools - such as - intake/outtake forms - normal result note follow up - clinical reminders - procedure and intervention notes established by the agency
• Assisting in behavioral/psychiatric situations in an outpatient setting
• This can include assisting licensed personnel with crisis intervention - management of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients - by providing one-to-one observations and applying prevention and management of disruptive behavior techniques (PMDB)
• Assists licensed staff with the delivery of care to patients with complex - specialized - and potentially life-threatening situations
• You will assist licensed staff with setting up equipment and providing treatment during in person or virtual visits
• Operating specialized medical equipment to obtain diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes
• Observes patient status and keeps licensed clinical staff informed of any change in condition
• You will assist clinical providers with emergency medical care - provides emergency response as part of the Rapid-Response-Team (RRT) - and assists with training of other hospital clinical staff
• Performing Diagnostic Tests
• Examples: Vital Signs - 12-lead electrocardiogram (EKG) Point-of-Care
• Examples: glucometer - COVID swabbing Specimen collection and Preparation
• Examples: collecting and labeling venous blood samples Minor Procedures
• Examples: simple one-layer laceration repairs - incision and drainage - skin stapling - STERIS trips - Dermabond Medication Administration: nebulized medications - topical - limited PO meds - vaccine administration Wound Care
• Examples
• wound debridement - Wet-to-Dry dressings - Unna Boot placement - compression dressings- Forflex and Profour - wound vac placement - graft application
• Electronic Health Record (EHR): Thoroughly and appropriately documents actions - interventions and procedures in the medical record
• Examples: Procedural notes and progress notes Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 08:00am-4:30pm Position Description Title/PD#: Intermediate Care Technician (CORE)/PD99968S Physical Requirements: The work involves extended periods of bending - standing and walking
• Generally - the work requires recurring physical exertion with assisting patients
• The work requires a level of physical fitness that allows for standing for extended periods - heavy lifting to position patients - and manual dexterity to perform clinical procedures
• The work will require recurrent bending - lifting - stooping - standing - squatting - stretching - sitting and walking.