Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Veterans Health Administration; City of Long Beach (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Veterans Health Administration at the Long Beach VA Medical Center seeks a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) to receive contaminated instruments in decontamination and prepare them for reuse. This entry-level role requires basic experience or education in healthcare and English proficiency.

Applicants may be referred under grandfathering provisions and must meet the GS-06 criteria, with duties including prioritizing instrument processing, assisting OR staff, and performing

Qualifications

• Six months of experience or one year of higher education with health care courses.
• English language proficiency for MST duties.
• Grandfathering provisions may apply for current VHA employees.

Responsibilities

• Assist in prioritizing instrument processing to support case turnover.
• Assist OR staff and handle opening of instrument trays.
• Perform daily quality testing on SPS equipment.
• Support supervisor with day-to-day SPS tasks.

Skills

Surgical instruments knowledge

Universal precautions

Medical terminology

Sterility principles

Reading instructions

Education

One year above high school with health care courses

Job description

This position is located within the Sterile Processing Department at the Long Beach VA Medical Center. Medical Supply Technicians (Sterile Processing) receive contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment in the decontamination area, and may receive noncritical equipment. 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.
• Experience and/or Education: Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or Education. One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; or Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
• English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

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: GS-06:

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

Preferred Experience:

Assists in prioritizing processing of instruments and equipment for surgical procedures to facilitate turnover of cases. Anticipates instrument needs for following day and assures sterile processing completion. May assist the operating room staff, supporting the O.R. suite while opening surgical instrument trays Acts as HLD Specialist. Performs/assists with daily quality testing on equipment in SPS. Assists supervisor in day-to-day activities to include answering phones and daily staff assignment sheet.

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-06.

Physical Requirements: May be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lighted. This work requires proper body mechanics when standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages/instrument trays weighing up to 50 lbs. The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instruments.