Career Center

Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician Electrocardiograph (EKG) incumbent will be assigned to the EKG room and reports to the Nurse Manager of the Medical-Telemetry Unit with the Detroit VA Medical Center. They will be responsible for indirect patient care. The incumbent will be expected to develop and demonstrate increasing skills in performing a variety of tasks. The incumbent will operate and monitor commonly used equipment performing routine procedures under normal supervision.

Qualifications

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
• English Language Proficiency
• Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
• Education
• There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels
• See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions
• Licensure or Certification
• Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation
• however - it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge - skills - and abilities
• For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments - specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations"
• For all specialties identified in this standard - Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable
• Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition
• 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)
• The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards
• Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation
• Grade Determinations: GS-04
• (a) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant - practical nursing - or similar fields
• The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR - 1
• Education
• Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation
• (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities Knowledge of basic medical terminology
• Ability to learn the components - operating characteristics - and settings of the equipment to be used
• Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress
• Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing (c) Assignments
• At this level assignments are trainee in nature
• The medical instrument technician trainee is performing limited routine assignments of a developmental nature under close supervision
• GS-05
• (a) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled
• This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas
• Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: OR - (b) Education
• Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation - or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
• Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
• Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities
• Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or 8 procedures
• Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble - clean - reassemble - and calibrate the machine
• GS-06
• (a) Experience
• At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities Ability to recognize special patient needs such as disabilities - impaired mobility - and complicating medical conditions to prepare and position the patient for the prescribed procedure
• Knowledge of the specialized equipment and accessories appropriate to Holter monitoring and ability to perform such tests
• Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment
• Ability to monitor the patient for adverse reactions and take appropriate action
• Ability to operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing
• GS-07
• (a) Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• This would be experience which provided knowledge of the equipment - standard tests - and procedures
• And typical readings including arrhythmias and abnormalities
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize - report - and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias
• Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures
• Ability to modify procedures/positions to obtain the correct results with patients with complicating conditions such as amputations - Parkinson's disease - structural defects - and scar tissue
• Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians
• Ability to conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation
• Preferred Experience: 1-2 years of telemetry experience 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-07
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-07
• Physical Requirements: Must be able to sit for majority of shift and maintain attention to alarms
• Must be able to physically perform CPR functions if needed
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - near vision correctable - far vision correctable
• Both eyes required
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• The monitor tech must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• Duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Provide continuous monitoring of cardiac rate - rhythm - and patterns of conduction at a monitoring station
• Measures - prints - and interprets rhythms at designated intervals and PRN
• Recognizes and reports changes in a patient's rhythm that are outside the established parameters
• Promptly validates alarm conditions for each patient
• Recognizes life threatening situations and notifies RN while simultaneously initiating emergency procedures
• Always maintains patient confidentiality and rights
• Gives verbal report hand-off communication to shift charge nurse and relief telemetry monitor technician
• Uses telemetry monitoring equipment
• Comprehends the use and functions of the central station monitor
• Instructs patients on the purpose and use of telemetry monitoring and prepares patients for telemetry with proper skin preparation and electrode placement
• Off going tech transports telemetry strips to the charge nurse of the monitored unit after shift report
• Work Schedule: 11:00 pm - 7:30 am
• Monday through Friday and every other weekend Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93845-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized