Health Technician - Emergency Department

Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 10/08/2026. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 10/20/2025, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month.

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Duties

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Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Receives requests of instructions for procedures. Interprets requests of instructions for medical or health care personnel. Performs as technician in charge of office. Receives assignments for a variety of difficult examinations. Employee independently interprets and carries out the requests.
• Secures patients confidence and cooperation during procedures. Explains procedures, positions patients for desired results, and cushions and shields patients as appropriate. Varies procedure or position to adjust to patients medical condition. Independently explains procedures and positions for a variety of difficult invasive procedures. Answers patients questions during procedures. Operates and maintains medical instruments and equipment for diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Determines technical factors, sets controls and operates equipment and instruments. Sets up and adjusts specialized equipment with multiple features that requires precise patient positioning to operate correctly. Selects and sets technical factors for invasive procedures. Sets equipment parameters based on the patients diagnosis or specific and/or individualized testing criteria. Makes precise adjustments to clarify readings and measurements. Assists in the performance or independently performs invasive procedures. Uses a practical knowledge of the location and function of major body organs and structures related to the specialized field in which the employee works. Assists during the procedures by monitoring patients condition, and monitoring and recording reactions. Collects information. Recognizes deviations in patients condition and takes appropriate action. Sets up all necessary accessories or supplies and advises other medical personnel of new equipment, accessories, and supplies. Ensure proper cleaning and performs minor maintenance and adjustments. Performs medical procedures such as starting IV's or removing needles, etc.
• Assists medical staff with or performs diagnostic procedures such as EKG used to diagnose medical conditions. Performs the full range of complex procedures using specialized equipment that requires precise adjustments to respond to individual patient conditions or test sequences. Enters EKG, troponin time, and blood culture time date into the automated patient data system. Serves as technical expert in the operation and maintenance of specialized equipment and instruments. Assists in the performance or independently performs invasive procedures. Uses a practical knowledge of the location and function of major body organs and structures in order to position the patient and/or connect monitoring equipment to take optimum advantage if the equipment capabilities. Makes continuing adjustments to equipment and positions as results are interpreted. Sets up all necessary accessories or supplies and advises other medical personnel of new equipment, accessories, or supplies. Ensures proper cleaning and performs minor maintenance and adjustments. Assists during procedures by monitoring patients condition and recording reactions. Provides assistance of a technical, specialized, or support nature to health and medical personnel in the diagnosis or treatment of patient illnesses or medical conditions. Supports medical and health care professionals in tests and procedures to diagnose and treat medical conditions.
• Performs a range of diagnostic support duties such as taking, recording and reporting to supervisor deviations in vital signs, taking specimens, labeling specimens for the laboratory. Arranges and passes medical instruments and materials to medical/health professional for a variety of diagnostic tests and procedures including; Performing 12 lead ECG, 12 lead rhythm strip and 12 lead right sided ECG and manual blood pressure testing.

Work Schedule: 8 & 12 hr shifts; days, evenings, nights; rotating weekends/holidays. Based on the needs of the service.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician - Emergency Department/ PD07908A and PD05038A

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Physical Requirements: The work required does include physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is required.
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/08/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: 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. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Knowledge of anatomy, first aid and basic patient care. Ability to establish rapport and interview patients to collect information and data about current health status and immediate needs. Able to communicate findings orally and in writing clearly and succinctly. Ability to work effectively with patients/families in crisis. Knowledge of medical terminology, drug terminology, and equipment/supply terminology, and skills sufficient to identify and use equipment and supplies properly. Ability to communicate proper use with nurses, medical staff, and family members. Knowledge of specialized terminology associated with the work in the VA Medical Center and In-depth knowledge of the terminology used in the emergency department. An understanding of disease and illness and skill sufficient to teach patients. Provides instruction on self care at home. Reinforces to patients and family members the importance of compliance with the prescribed plan of care.
• Individual Occupation Requirement: 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.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at

Physical Requirements:

• Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds
• Light lifting, under 15 pounds
• Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds
• Light carrying, under 15 pounds
• Pulling hand over hand (8-12 hours)
• Pushing (8-12 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (8-12 hours)
• Standing (8-12 hours)
• Kneeling (8-12 hours)
• Repeated bending (8-12 hours)
• Climbing, legs only
• Climbing, use of legs and arms
• Both legs required
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Hearing (aid may be permitted)

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit:

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments.

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.