Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Trainer

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Federal retirement benefits

Job summary

The VA Boston Healthcare System seeks a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Trainer to lead SPS training, decontamination, and sterilization workflows for staff. This position emphasizes program development, competency assessment, and adherence to accreditation standards.

The role involves mentorship, documentation of training outcomes, and collaboration with SPS leadership to improve processing operations across the facility.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of SPS and Infection Prevention regulations.
• Ability to develop and manage SPS training programs.
• Experience in conducting department SOP training and end-user instruction.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff and management.

Responsibilities

• Provide initial orientation and mentor SPS MSTs in decontamination, cleaning, disinfection, preparation and sterilization of reusable medical devices.
• Develop and maintains a training plan ensuring competency renewals per SPS risk assessments.
• Conduct training on departmental SOPs for MST staff and end-users as needed.
• Develop formal and informal written plans for SPS training in compliance with accreditation and policy.
• Collaborate with SPS leadership to manage inventory and improve training programs.

Skills

SPS knowledge

Infection prevention knowledge

Training & mentoring

Communication skills

Word / Excel proficiency

Education

One year above high school with health care related courses

Experience and/or education combination acceptable

Foreign education creditable

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Documentation systems

Job description

Summary

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Trainer position is in the Sterile Processing Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System located at the Jamaica Plain - MA location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week.

Summary

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Trainer position is in the Sterile Processing Service at the VA Boston Healthcare System located at the Jamaica Plain - MA location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week.

Qualifications

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 as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• 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
• Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U
• S
• programs
• GS 7 Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS 6
• Assignment: The MST Trainer is responsible for developing formal and informal written plans for the SPS training program - in compliance with accreditation organizations and VHA-specific requirements as well as medical center policies and procedures for SPS and related staff
• Facilitates training of SPS staff through educational programs and job specific instruction
• Improves SPS processes by facilitating the application for new technology of reusable medical devices by training all new and existing staff
• Develops - monitors - and revises SPS educational programs for both new and existing staff
• Documents and assesses staff's training - to identify areas of strength and need
• Develops an education plan (literature review - continuing education - in-services - certification and/or formal education) to maintain and improve knowledge in specialized areas of processing reusable medical devices
• Participates in tracking - trending and analyzing education data
• Identifies opportunities for improvement - makes recommendations and/or prepares reports based on findings
• Develops and conducts the annual review of the SPS preceptor program
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• Knowledge of SPS and Infection Prevention regulations
• 2
• Knowledge of procedures and/or operations in training developed for - and operations of SPS functions for both new and existing staff
• 3
• Ability to manage integrated training programs as it relates to sterile processing procedures
• 4
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word - Excel or other software programs in order to complete reports and develop skills
• 5
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff and management officials in regards to sterile processing procedures
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• 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 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.

Duties

• The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) - Trainer position will provide initial orientation and serve as a mentor to newly hired SPS MSTs with decontamination - cleaning - disinfection - preparation - and sterilization of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) for distribution and support for the medical center
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Provide decontamination - cleaning disinfection preparation and sterilization for the medical center
• Develops and maintains a training plan for established SPS MSTs to ensure that competency assessments are renewed in accordance with frequency identified within the SPS risk assessments
• Conducts training on departmental Standard Operating Procedures for MST staff as well as end-users as needed
• Responsible for developing formal and informal written plans for the SPS training program in compliance with accreditation organizations
• Facilitates training of SPS staff through educational programs and job specific instruction
• Improves SPS processes by facilitating the application for new technology of reusable medical devices by training all new and existing staff
• Develops - monitors - and revises SPS educational programs for both new and existing staff
• Documents and assesses staff's training to identify areas of strength and need
• Develops an education plan (literature review - continuing education - in-services - certification and/or formal education) to maintain and improve knowledge in specialized areas of processing reusable medical devices
• Participates in tracking - trending - and analyzing education data
• Identifies opportunities for improvement - makes recommendations and/or prepares reports based on findings
• Develops and conducts an annual review of the SPS preceptor program
• Collaborates with SPS Chief and Lead utilizing advanced instrument - process and documentation management systems - as applicable - to correctly manage Reusable Medical Devices inventory levels throughout the facility including troubleshooting and addressing clinical area support needs through SPS functionality
• Demonstrates Patient Centered Care (PCC) through the use of effective communication with patients - families - visitors - and members of the interdisciplinary team - including the patient in mutual goal setting - and providing patient advocacy when appropriate
• Work Schedule: Full-Time Monday-Friday - 7:00am-3:30pm Telework: Not available Compressed Schedule: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: F07827 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Recruitment/Relocation Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service
• This position is an AFGE Bargaining Unit position
• This position is covered by a special salary rate
• Veterans preference does not apply to internal or other federal employees
• Employee will be expected to travel to the other campuses as needed
• Current and former Federal employees may submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• No award SF50's will be accepted
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment.