Medical Instrument Technician - Electrocardiograph Technicians (EKG)

Description:

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.

Requirements:

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.