Career Center

Summary

This position - at the full performance level - with appropriate competency validation(s) - is overseen by the Centralized Nurse Staffing Office & Utilization Management Department at VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) and assigned to one or more of the following areas: Progressive Care Unit - Intensive Care Unit - Emergency Department - Inpatient Nursing Services.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists - speech pathologists - medical officers - and optometrists. Therefore - technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. GS-06 grade level: 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: Basic anatomy and physiology to include location and function of major body organs and structures. Completion of formal nursing assistant program and/or active duty military equivalent. Cardiac rhythm interpretation - lead placement for 12 Lead electrocardiogram and telemetry monitoring - monitor alarm parameters - operation and maintenance of cardiopulmonary and electrocardiogram equipment. Vital sign measurements - deviation from norms - documentation - and procedure for reporting results. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-06 level. Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. At grades GS-4 and above - a portion of the education is usually directly related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of related courses are provided in the individual occupational requirements where applicable. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-06 level. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. The combinations described below are those most typical for these positions - i.e. - for grades GS-3 through GS-5. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements - then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. (When crediting education - prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.) To calculate - first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting - you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example - an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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.

Duties

• KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION Knowledge of anatomy and physiology to include location and function of major body organs and structures - as well as familiarity with medical terminology - common diseases - disorders and related conditions
• medications and contraindications
• Technical knowledge of Cardiac rhythm interpretation - skill in lead placement for 12 Lead electrocardiogram and telemetry monitoring - monitor alarm parameters - operation and maintenance of cardiopulmonary and electrocardiogram equipment
• Technical knowledge and skill in Pulse oximetry monitoring - peak flow measurement - incentive spirometry - bladder scans - etc
• Ability to take vital sign measurements - identify deviation from norms - documentation requirements - and procedure for reporting results in both routine and emergent situations
• Ability to recognize common life-threatening emergencies and ability to provide initial response
• knowledge of emergency situations such as cardiopulmonary failure - hemorrhaging - and shock and how to perform and/or assist in the performance of resuscitation measures
• Ability to provide for safe patient handling including patient transfers and transportation by wheel chair and/or gurney
• Skill in operating safe patient handling equipment
• Knowledge of infection control practices - aseptic techniques - and universal precautions to protect patient and self from contamination
• Knowledge of non-behavioral restraints including proper application and safety considerations
• Knowledge of constant observation procedures and provisions for protection and safety for those with self-harm behaviors
• Ability to utilize established protocol when necessary to physically control or defend against patients who exhibit threatening and/or dangerous behaviors
• Skilled in splint application - c-spine precautions and collar application - and orthopedic appliances for mobility including crutches - immobilizers - w/c - and gurneys
• Knowledge of specimen collection procedures and point of care CLIA waived testing
• skill in venipuncture sufficient to perform phlebotomy on patients
• Knowledge of computer software programs equivalent to Microsoft manipulate databases and/or spreadsheets - tracking quality measures and issuing reports
• utilize Email
• and enter information into VHA proprietary systems - such as VISTA - CPRS for the electronic medical record
• Skill sufficient to communicate verbally and in writing with individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds - education - experience and cultures in order to assist and advise patients and report medical issues
• Ability to prioritize and perform routine aspects of workload - as well as specific steps in complex - non-routine or emergent situations
• Ability to work on a team for the mutual goal of successful patient outcomes
• Work Schedule: Full-time - Monday -Friday - 0700-1930 - 0930-2200 - 1130-2400 - 1930-0700 - Weekends and Holiday's included
• Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/PD12144A Physical Requirements: Provides non-professional nursing care to patients experiencing extremes of behavior on a regular and recurring basis
• Responds to emergency mental health situations - where danger of physical attack by patients requires special training
• When patients express or exhibit suicidal ideation - the incumbent intervenes by utilizing techniques per established procedures to keep the patient safe - and maintain personal safety - while awaiting assistance
• The incumbent must be able to lift 35 lbs - perform the following: pulling - pushing - reaching above the shoulders and laterally - use of fingers - both hands - arms - and legs - sitting - walking - and standing for long periods
• Also - he/she must able to hear whispered voices (with or without a hearing aid) - kneeling - repeated bending - ability for rapid mental/muscular coordination simultaneously - visual requirements for monitoring observation - depth perception - and ability to distinguish shades of color due to equipment wiring.