Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

US Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) at the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic in Tulsa, OK. The role involves decontamination, sterilization, and coordination of sterile packs for procedures, under supervision.

Applicants must meet basic federal requirements and English proficiency. Developmental to full-performance levels exist (GS-3 to GS-6) with training in sterilization methods and hospital instrumentation.

Qualifications

• Six months of experience or education in a healthcare setting.
• Basic knowledge of universal precautions for safety and cross-contamination prevention.
• Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
• Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Decontaminate, sterilize, and inspect reusable medical equipment (RME).
• Assemble basic instrument sets and trays for operating rooms and clinics.
• Load and operate sterilizers (steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and similar systems).
• Prepare operating room case carts; follow schedule and safety protocols.

Skills

Sterile processing

Operating room instruments

Medical terminology

Communication skills

Education

High school diploma + 6 health care credits

Two years of college with 12 related credits

Job description

The Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System is hiring (1) Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) for the Ernest Childers VA Outpatient Clinic, based in Tulsa, OK.

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

Citizenship.

Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3g.)

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.

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).

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.

English Language Proficiency.

MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part.

Grade Determinations

GS-03 (Entry Level)

(a) Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

(b) Assignment. This is an entry level MST position. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

GS-04 (Developmental Level)

(a) 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

(b) 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.

1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

(c) Assignment. This is a developmental level MST position. Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME). Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center. Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes. Prepares operating room case carts. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision.

GS-05 (Developmental Level)

(a) Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or

(b) 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.

1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

(d) Assignment: This is a developmental level MST position. Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing. Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room. Prepares, loads, and operates sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex tasks and require direct supervision on new assignments.

GS-06 (Full Performance Level)

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

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.

(c) Assignment. This is the full performance level for the occupation. Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well. 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, ETO, and high level disinfecting scope reprocessors. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment.

Preferred Experience:

• 1 year experience as a sterile processing or scrub tech, outpatient or hospital setting
• Preferred if applicant has knowledge for instrument tracking systems (ITS)
• Attention to detail

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:

Work is performed in decontamination, preparation, clean supply areas, and other hospital departments. Conditions may be hot, cold, drafty, or poorly lit. The role requires standing and walking for the full shift, frequent bending, and lifting up to 50 pounds. Dexterity and visual acuity are needed for handling and assembling instruments. The employee regularly moves between contaminated and clean environments and must wear required protective equipment, which may be warm or uncomfortable. There is exposure to hot surfaces, strong or unpleasant odors, body fluids, and noisy equipment. These requirements align with VA Directive/Handbook 5019.