Career Center

Summary

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) is part of Nursing Service line at VA Boston Health Care System located in West Roxbury - MA. This position is full-time at 40 hours per week. Travel to Jamaica Plain and Brockton campus will be on an as needed basis.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement -04/02/2025.

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 in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-06 (Full Performance Level) - 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
• Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
• 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
• References: Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G47 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• 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.

Duties

• Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) for Veterans Health Administration (VHA).The MST - SPS interprets and follows the policies and procedures of the SPS Service to perform his/her daily functions within the established guidelines and demonstrates the ability to work effectively
• The incumbent is required to have a broad knowledge of
• and skill in applying - a wide range of sterilization and decontamination techniques - microbiology - quality control - and distinguishing between various medical/surgical instruments
• The individual is accountable of maintaining SPS standards for the practice of all services and care lines and contributes to the fulfillment of the mission of the clinical areas
• Participates in evaluating the decontamination - high level disinfection/sterilization process and pre-cleaning processes utilized throughout the medical center and CBOCs
• The position is required to travel to any location of the SPS Boston campuses when necessary
• The position is required to work as needed on other than normal working tours of duty - either in the evening - nights - holidays or weekends
• This is the full performance level for the occupation
• Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) in the decontamination area - and may receive noncritical equipment as well
• Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method - such as - but not limited to - ultrasonic cleaners - mechanical washers/disinfectors - 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 re-processors
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all processes and equipment
• Receives items and correctly organizes them on shelves - ensuring that rotation of stock using First In- First Out (FIFO) method
• The employee is under the supervision of the Supervisor - Sterile Processing Service: The supervisor and/or Service Chief will assign work with standing instructions on objectives - priorities - and deadlines - and provides guidance for unusually involved situations
• The employee will work as team member with other Medical Supply Technicians of various experience to carry out the daily work utilizing the written standard operating procedures and/or manufactures written instructions in accordance with instructions - policies - previous training - or accepted/standard practices
• The supervisor evaluates completed work for overall technical soundness and conformance to agency policies through competency assessment utilizing simulation - direct observation and verbal responses from the incumbent
• Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Medical Supply Aide and Technician: vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Medical-Supply-Aide-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Evening shift - 2:30pm to 11pm - with rotating weekends - holidays and days/ evenings / nights as needed per departmental needs
• Compressed/Flexible: Not Available 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) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: PD910130 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service
• Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees
• Current and former federal employees should submit copies of their most recent non-award SF50 (notice of personnel action)
• The SF50 must identify the position - title - series - grad - step - tenure and type of service (competitive or excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position
• This position is covered by a special rate
• The incumbent is required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.