Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 48,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing) at GS-6 level in Richmond, VA. The role involves decontamination, disassembly of reprocessable medical equipment, and selecting appropriate cleaning and sterilization methods within a dynamic hospital setting.

Ideal candidates have one year of related experience or education and familiarity with sterilization equipment, universal precautions, and medical terminology.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship required.
• Six months of experience or one year of health care related education with at least 6 semester hours.
• Education and experience may be combined.
• English proficiency as per VA policy.
• Grandfathering provision may apply for current VHA MST employees.
• GS-6 requires at least one year of experience at GS-5.

Responsibilities

• Disassemble RME and determine correct cleaning method (ultrasonic/mechanical/chemical).
• Inspect, assemble and determine correct sterilization method (steam, Sterrad, Steris).
• Package and prepare instruments for sterilization and handling.

Skills

Sterile processing knowledge

Surgical instruments knowledge

Safety and universal precautions

Medical terminology

Education

One year above high school with health care related courses

Sterile processing certification preferred

Tools

Ultrasonic cleaners

Mechanical washers

Sterrad/Steris systems

Job description

This is a Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA) that will be used to fill a full-time vacant Medical Supply Tech (Sterile Processing) position within the Sterile Processing service. Resumes will be referred to the hiring manager once the vacancy closes on Friday, September 18th. You will receive an email notification when your resume has been referred to the hiring manager, if applicable.

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 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).

Grandfathering Provision

• 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.

Grade Determinations:

GS-6

Experience:

Must have at least one year of experience at the next lower grade (GS-5). Specialized experience may include: Experience with contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area. Ability to disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method, such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer instructions. Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization such as but not limited to steam, Sterrad, Steris, and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors. 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.

Preferred Experience:

• Endoscope Reprocessing
• Certification in sterile processing preferred

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 a 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 which may be hot, humid, cold, drafty, and/or poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires pushing, pulling, standing, and walking during the entire workday, and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembling, and assembling of various devices and instrumentation. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears hospital issued scrubs, and personal protective equipment that can become uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers and mechanical cleaning machines. The employee is subject to burns from accidental contact with hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing vapors are unknown. The employee may frequently be exposed to 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 devices. The work area is noisy, due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of sterilizing and decontamination equipment.