Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

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

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) to apply knowledge of RME processes and to maintain up-to-date SOPs for cleaning, disinfection, and preparation. The role requires adherence to safety, cross-contamination prevention, and accurate handling of sterile items.

Applicants must meet the basic eligibility criteria and KSAs for sterile processing, with opportunities for progression through GS-3 to GS-6 levels.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology to assemble instrument sets.
• Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Apply knowledge of processes for Reusable Medical Equipment (RME).
• Maintain current knowledge of SOPs for cleaning, disinfection, and preparation of RME.
• Work in decontamination and clean sterile supply areas following safety standards.
• Demonstrate KSAs related to surgical instruments and sterility requirements.

Skills

Universal precautions

Medical terminology

Sterilization knowledge

Oral and written communication

Education

High school + 1 year health courses

High school + 2 years health courses

Job description

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) applies knowledge of the processes for Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) as required by the position. The incumbent will be required to maintain current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning, disinfection, and preparation of RME appropriate to this position. 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.
• English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.
• 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; (Documentation Submitted) OR
  • Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

Grade Determinations

• GS-03 (Entry Level) (a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-04 (Developmental Level)
  • Experience. Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; OR
  • Education. Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
    • Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
    • Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
    • Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
    • Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
• GS-05 (Developmental Level)
  • Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; OR
  • Education. Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
    • Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
    • Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
    • Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
• GS-06 (Full Performance Level)
  • Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
  • Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
    • Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
    • Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
    • Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.

Preferred Experience

Three years of experience, experience assembling major trays, experience reprocessing GI scopes and using Censitrac.

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-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.

Physical Requirements

This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 25 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation.

On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing, hair covers, personal protective equipment and shoe covers that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers. The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gases are unknown. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clattery of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre sterilizing equipment.