Job Information
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration Health Technician (Ambulatory and Critical Care) in Gainesville, Florida
Summary The incumbent serves as a Health Technician for the Critical Care and Ambulatory Care Units: Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Medical Surgical Step Down Unit (MSSDU), 4-North/ICU, Emergency Department (ED) at North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS). Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Serves as a unit resource for equipment when appropriate and has received adequate training to serve as a unit expert (examples: ceiling lifts, beds, golf carts) Assumes responsibility for maintaining orderly work areas within the unit without being specifically directed to do so. Interprets hospital routines and procedures to patients and their visitors. Assists the RN in transporting patients to Critical Care area (MSSDU, MICU, SICU, and transports patients requiring Telemetry monitoring with signed competencies. Obtains 12 lead EKG's. Assist with minor surgical procedures. Perform phlebotomy/specimen collection. Insert Foley catheters and external catheters. Perform Blood Glucose/ Chem sticks, reports abnormal results accordingly to policy and performs quality control per policy. Accurately takes and records vital signs and reports any deviation from normal. Application of cast/ splint per physician order. Transports specimens to the lab. Recognizes emergencies and responds appropriately by seeking and providing assistance as necessary. Restocks and checks crash carts and airway boxes. Assists the RN in post-mortem care. Answers phones calls and intercom, relays messages appropriately. HTs assume a collaborative role in mobility of patients by completing rounds on all patients and establishing a mobility plan with the nurse early in their shift. This includes clarification of the patient's orders, expected activity and current ability to mobilize. Recognizes and provides maximal physical safety and emotional security for the patient by taking appropriate action, discussion with the nurse and adding information to the patient's nursing care plan. Observes, reports, and records pertinent observations and psychological reactions of patients to treatments which are significant in assisting the health care team to interpret progress and plan for the patient's management. Cares for patients presenting atypical problems resulting from senility, lack of muscular coordination, and disabilities with aging. Assumes positive person-to-person relationship designed to motivate the patient to accept appropriate medical care and to educate and obtain the cooperation of the family in helping the patient to achieve emotional and social adjustment. Work Schedule: 12 hour days or 12 hour nights with weekend rotation. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Ambulatory and Critical Care)/PD01804A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 01/02/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience using Nursing Service policies and procedures which prescribe the safe performance of major nursing care duties. Knowledge of equipment, safety practices, and emergency lifesaving techniques. Experience with the Privacy Act to ensure patient rights. Experience with interpersonal relationships necessary to maintain positive interactions with patients, families, and personnel. Prior NA or HCT Experience preferred, Previous ED experience preferred. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Customer Service Infection Control Patient Care Specimen Collection Teamwork Technical Credibility Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work involves sitting, walking, standing, pushing, pulling, bending, and heavy lifting (35 pounds and over). This requires the knowledge and expertise in using assistive devices such as the beds, ceiling lifts, walkers, slide boards and rollators, and in using proper body mechanics. Work Environment: The work is performed in one of the ICUs or the Medical-Surgical Step Down. The incumbent wears prescribed protective devices when in contact with contagious diseases. ID patients with contaminated drainage. Safe work habits are practiced. *When providing patient care, the employee will consider the age of the patient and the impact his/her age has on their ability to understand directions and to provide input into their own care. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.