Summary

The VA Western North Carolina Healthcare System in Asheville - NC is recruiting for two Medical Instrument Technologists (Polysomnography). The Medical Instrument Technologists (Polysomnography) will function in the Specialty Care Service Line. A Recruitment/Relocation Incentive May be Authorized for Highly Qualified Applicants.

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
• Education
• There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation
• Educationmay 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
• 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
• The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards
• Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation
• Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation
• All persons 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 - including positive education and licensure/certification/registration 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: Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration - may be reassigned - promoted - or demoted within the occupation
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance level - or demoted within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels
• Employees 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
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401 (3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: GS-8 (Full Performance Level) GS-8 GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Must have at least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-7) which demonstrates the knowledge - skills - and abilities related to the duties of the position
• Experience includes: Providing complex procedures as well as knowledge of the uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders
• Interacting fully with the patient and physician to diagnose sleep disorders including those that are uncommon or rare
• Conducting full sleep studies including overnight studies and evaluate the relationship of events - sleep stages - and possible medical conditions which influence or result from events occurring during sleep
• Anticipating problems likely to occur during the sleep study and prepare for such situations - make changes in established procedures - or recommend alternative courses of action
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders
• 2
• Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form
• 3
• Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g. - respiratory - cardiac - sleep stage - seizures - etc.) and ability to take appropriate action
• 4
• Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians
• Selective Placement Factor: Must have experience with Day Time EEG - MLST - and Outpatient CPAP Devices Reference: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G27The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as standing or walking for prolonged periods of time
• frequent bending - reaching - stooping - and stretching to set up and take apart equipment and apparatus
• lifting and repositioning patients
• and pushing or pulling heavy objects such as oxygen tanks and/or equipment
• The work may require specific physical characteristics and abilities such as above-average dexterity to perform intricate respiratory therapy procedures
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Major duties include but are not limited to: Collect - analyze and integrate patient information in order to identify and meet the patient-specific needs (Physical/mental limitations - current emotional/physiological status regarding the testing procedure - pertinent medical/social history) - and to determine final testing parameters/procedures in conjunction with the ordering physician or clinical director and laboratory protocols
• Complete and verify documentation
• Explain pre-testing - testing - and post-testing procedures to the patient
• Equipment: The technician will operate computerized polysomnography for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG - EOG - EKG - EMG - and respiratory parameters
• Polysomnographic Record Scoring: The technician will score sleep/wake stages by applying professional accepted guidelines
• Medical Terminology: The technician will know medical terminology - anatomy - physiology as it relates to sleep disorders
• Testing: The Polysomnography (PSG) technician will utilize standard or alternate position for patients with common physical disabilities for the procedure being performed
• Patient Safety: The PSG technician will know the typical patient reaction to the neuro diagnostic procedure being performed and know signs of patient distress
• Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm Monday - Friday 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) Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: A recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.