Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 38,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Phoenix VA Health Care System seeks a dedicated Medical Supply Technician to join our Sterile Processing team. The role focuses on sterilization, preparation, and decontamination of essential medical supplies to support exceptional patient care.

The position adheres to VA qualification standards for GS-03 to GS-06 and requires compliance with safety, infection control, and hospital procedures to maintain a sterile environment across the medical center.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience or equivalent education as described in the basic requirements.
• Two years of education above high school with the specified health care coursework.
• Combination of experience and education may qualify at entry level per the Grandfathering Provision.

Responsibilities

• Sterilize, decontaminate and prepare medical supplies.
• Assist Sterile Processing team to ensure readiness of instruments and equipment.
• Follow universal precautions and safety protocols at all times.

Skills

Universal precautions knowledge

Medical terminology knowledge

Sterilization equipment knowledge

Oral and written communication

Education

One year above high school with 6 health care related semester hours

Two years of education above high school with 12 semester hours in related courses

Job description

The Phoenix VA Health Care System is looking for a passionate and dedicated Medical Supply Technician to partner with our exceptional Sterile Processing team. In this crucial role, you'll ensure our medical center operates smoothly by handling sterilization, preparation, and decontamination of essential medical supplies. Join us and be the heartbeat of our commitment to excellent patient care!

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.
  1. Experience. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or
  2. 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
  3. Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
• Certification. None.
• Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
  1. Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation.
  2. MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.
  3. MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation.
• Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs.

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-03 (Entry Level)

1. Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-04 (Developmental Level)

1. 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
2. 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.
3. 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)

1. Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04); OR
2. 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.
3. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience and 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)

1. Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05).
2. 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.
   • Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
   • Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.

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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

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, Needle Sticks, and other injuries from handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of sterile products and packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 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 gasses 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 clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.