Summary

The New Mexico VA Healthcare Network is recruiting for a Medical Supply Technician assigned to Sterile Processing service (SPS). This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until March 28, 2025. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 16, 2025 with subsequent cut-off dates biweekly until all positions are filled.

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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with Veterans Affairs Handbook 5005
• 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)
• Grandfathering Provision
• All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation
• (2) MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (3) MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements, the following criteria must be used when determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates
• GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-5)
• To be creditable, experience must have demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with Medical Supply Technician
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
• Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures
• Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures
• Preferred Experience: Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) experience References: VA Handbook 5005/83, Part II, Appendix G47, Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard, GS-0622, Veterans Health Administration
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06
• Physical Requirements: The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday with frequent bending and lifting of sterile packages and containers averaging 25 lbs
• before and after sterilization or high-level disinfection
• The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulation, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation
• Physical demands include bending, twisting, stooping, extending arms, lifting of heavy objects such as instrument trays to and from shelf heights ranging from 8 inches above floor level up 18 inches below ceiling height
• Use of a safety step stool or safety step ladder is required to reach work area and equipment surfaces higher than what the employee can reach unaided (i.e., standing on the floor)
• Pushing and pulling of loaded sterilizer carts, transport carts, and surgical case carts is required
• The incumbent must be able to tolerate standing for prolonged periods of time, wearing impervious personal protective equipment (PPE), and higher ambient temperatures in the presence of heat-generating equipment
• The incumbent must be able to tolerate ambient noise from reprocessing equipment and activities, and odors from contaminated RME and reprocessing agents
• On a regular basis the employee alternates between the clean, controlled environment of the preparation, sterilization, high-level disinfection, and sterile storage areas and the contaminated environment of the decontamination area
• The incumbent must comply with attire and PPE requirements to protect RME undergoing preparation, high-level disinfection, or sterilization from contaminants, and to protect oneself from biohazards such as blood, body fluids, and tissues
• The incumbent must also comply with PPE requirements or other controls designed for protection against hot surfaces and chemical agents used during cleaning, decontamination, high-level disinfection, and sterilization.

Duties

• The major duties and responsibilities of Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) includes but are not limited to: Complete Sterile Processing Service (SPS) Level 1 training within 90 days of hire
• Participate in continuing education (i.e., computer based training and in-service education sessions) to maintain SPS Level 1 certification
• Maintain knowledge of the department's Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for the cleaning, decontamination, preparation, high-level disinfection, sterilization, and storage of the RME appropriate to this position
• Maintain competency in all reprocessing activities
• 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 reprocessors
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all processes and equipment
• Reusable Medical Equipment: Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) is any medical equipment designed by the manufacturer to be reused for multiple patients
• All personnel who are involved in the reprocessing of RME are responsible for knowing what reusable instruments, equipment, medical devices or supplies are used (inventory) in their clinical area
• All personnel who are involved with the use of RME must be familiar with which items are reprocessed locally (on unit) and/or which items are sent to Sterile Processing for reprocessing and/or sterilization
• If items are transported for reprocessing, personnel must be aware of the individual decontamination steps that must be taken prior to transport of item and the appropriate method of transport
• All personnel who are involved in reprocessing of RME are responsible for following the local Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) drafted in accordance with the manufacturer's written recommendations
• Sterile Processing and Infection Control should be consulted when clarification of written instructions is needed
• No one should be reprocessing any reusable medical equipment based upon vendor's verbal instructions alone
• this is not an adequate practice
• All personnel that are in any way involved in the reprocessing of RME must have documented training in the setup, reprocessing and maintenance of specific equipment
• Validation of competency will be done according to national policy guidelines
• All personnel that have the responsibility of reprocessing reusable medical equipment can suspend the reuse of any RME if they suspect that the device was not properly cleaned, disinfected or sterilized according to the SOP and manufacturer's guidelines
• Single-use (disposable) medical devices will not be reused or re-sterilized
• All personnel must have an understanding of the importance of RME and the significant impact on our Veteran population through the risk of infectious disease
• Work Schedule: Tour of duty varies Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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)