Medical Instrument Technician (EKG)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center seeks a Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) to perform cardiac monitoring and patient care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. The MIT/Monitor Watcher will handle direct and indirect patient care, with emphasis on EKG monitoring and assessment according to age-appropriate care standards.

Preferred qualifications include BCLS and supervision experience; licensure is not strictly required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of EKG monitoring procedures and arrhythmia recognition.
• Ability to document patient readings and responses to treatment.
• Mentor or preceptor duties for lower graded technicians.

Responsibilities

• Provide cardiac monitoring and patient care under RN supervision.
• Monitor EKG tracings and identify arrhythmias needing physician attention.
• Assist with exercise stress testing and ambulatory monitoring as assigned.

Skills

EKG monitoring

Patient care

Mentoring

Education

No specific educational requirements

Tools

EKG equipment

Job description

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center is looking for a Medical Instrument Technician (MIT} - Electrocardiograph (EKG) Technician/(Monitor Watcher) who is a clinical/technical specialist that will provide cardiac monitoring and patient care duties under the supervision of the Registered Nurse. The MIT/Monitor Watcher will be responsible for direct and indirect patient care.

Clinical skills and proficiency are required for EKG monitoring, assessment, evaluation, age-appropriate care and documentation. 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

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations".

For all specialties identified in this standard, Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations

(a) 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 equipment, standard tests and procedures, and typical readings including arrhythmias and abnormalities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize, report and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias.
2. Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures.
3. Ability to modify procedures/positions to obtain the correct results with patients with complicating conditions such as amputations, Parkinson's disease, structural defects, and scar tissue.
4. Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians.
5. Ability to conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation.

(c) Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification.

(d) Assignment. This represents the full performance level. Medical instrument technicians (EKG) at this level operate and monitor electrocardiographic equipment to perform specialized examinations and studies involving exercise stress testing, ambulatory monitoring of arrhythmias, and indirect carotid pulse tracings on chronic patients. They monitor tracings to identify arrhythmias and when gross abnormalities appear, when to repeat certain procedures, when to stop test procedures, and when to get the immediate attention of a physician. They evaluate test results to determine appropriate machine adjustments and use alternative techniques and procedures when established procedures do not accomplish acceptable results. This includes adapting equipment and accessories to yield the best results during the examination. They edit and select an appropriate sample portion of the tracing for further interpretation by the physician.

Preferred Experience:

None

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 GS7.

Physical Requirements:

The work requires, at various intervals, long periods of sitting to monitor patients and/or EKG monitors. The employee must be able to visualize monitors, various equipment, and computer screen.