Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician - Electrocardiograph Technicians (EKG) is located in the Nursing service line of the Phoenix VA Health Care System (PVAHCS) - located at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix - AZ. In this position - you will be responsible for skilled continuous comprehensive monitoring - interpretation - evaluation - and documentation of the patent cardiac monitoring system for acute inpatients with orders for telemetry monitoring.

Qualifications

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 38 U.S.C. 7402(d)
• Certification: No certification is required
• however - it is desirable that employees at the GS-6 level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and GS-7 level have ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications
• Grade Determinations: GS-5 Medical Instrument Technicians (Trainee): 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 EKG 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: 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 procedures
• Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble - clean - reassemble - and calibrate the machine
• OR - 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
• GS-6 Medical Instrument Technicians (EKG): 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: Ability to recognize special patient needs such as disabilities - impaired mobility - and complicating medical conditions in order 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-7 Medical Instrument Technicians (EKG) Full Performance Level: 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: 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: Telemetry monitor experience
• Strong cardiac rhythm interpretation 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-05 to GS-07
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• The position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - pushing - and reaching over head
• The incumbent must be able to stand and move for extended periods of time.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties of the position include but are not limited to: Uses monitoring equipment with supervision and collaboration with primary RN - charge nurse - or medical provider
• Reports rhythm changes and arrhythmias to the assigned RN and charge nurse
• Reviews previous shift's rhythm strips for shift history and appropriate parameters of heart rate - blood pressure - oxygen saturation - or arrhythmias
• Interprets and identifies cardiac rhythms and electrocardiographic changes in rhythm
• Collects rhythm strips and documents ventricular rate - PR interval - and QRS duration
• Gives verbal reports to the assigned RN and other Tele Technicians according to policy
• Admits and discharges patients to the Telemetry Report/Log
• Sets alarms in accordance with physician orders - clinical alarm policy - and consultations with qualified RN
• Troubleshoots to recognize problems - identify possible causes - and seek solutions
• Reports and submits work orders for equipment in need of repair
• Maintains a log and inventory of equipment as assigned
• Follows CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment
• Monitors Telemetry equipment and performs all quality control checks
• Promotes the mission - vision - and values of the organization
• Interacts professionally with both internal and external customers
• Participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities
• Serves as a member of the health care team and adheres to established lines of authority and communication
• Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) Additional Duties: Maintains quality assurance of all Telemetry and EKG equipment
• Contacts Biomedical Engineering for periodic maintenance
• Reviews new technical developments in Telemetry and recommends improvements to Nursing management
• Performs rhythm evaluation and interpretation - understanding cardiovascular anatomy - Medical Terminology - EKG rhythm analysis - and variation of normal
• Recognizes equipment malfunctions and calls for service
• Reviews and organizes patient's previous studies for effective diagnostic use
• Maintains a clean and sanitary Telemetry suite - maintains supplies - and determines need for new or different equipment
• Work Schedule: Night Shift - 6:30pm - 7:00am - Rotating weekends and holidays Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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)Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• 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)