Health Technician (Telemetry Monitor Technician)

Summary This position is located at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital - Hines - IL (578) - a Level 1a Complexity VHA Facility - and is organizationally aligned under the Telemetry Unit in the Nursing & Patient Care Service. The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a non-licensed member of the nursing care team providing continuous observation of telemetry monitoring electrocardiographic (EKG) rhythms of critically ill patients. Qualifications To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position - you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate that you possess one year of time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Basic Requirements Specialized Experience: 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. Technician experience requires application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Applicants may qualify based on experience and/or education: GS-6 Grade Requirements: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the federal service. Specialized experience includes, but is not limited to: Applying basic knowledge of anatomy/physiology and medical techniques to support direct patient care; effectively communicating and providing support to patients and healthcare professionals; utilizing and maintaining medical equipment and instruments; performing safety/emergency procedures related to patient transport, infection control, and environmental safety; observing and reporting changes in patients’ physical and emotional behavior; performing medical tests and duties including phlebotomy, EKG, and CPR; and entering patient information and vital signs in computerized medical record systems using appropriate terminology. Experience refers to paid and unpaid work, including volunteer work through National Service programs and other organizations. Volunteer work provides critical competencies, knowledge, and skills that translate directly to paid employment and will be credited. Physical requirements: extensive periods of standing and walking, bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing, and similar tasks using appropriate body mechanics and assistive devices. The employee protects themselves and others from injury. Work environment: responsibilities performed in a healthcare setting; practices infection control and environmental safety; precautions with movable equipment, wet floors, and potential contagious disease exposure. One full year of work is considered 35–40 hours per week; part‑time experience will be credited based on actual hours. Applicants wishing to receive credit must indicate the nature of duties, responsibilities, and weekly hours in each position. For more information on qualification standards, visit Duties Continuously monitor EKGs of patients on telemetry at the Central Station site. Obtain EKG rhythm strips at the beginning of each shift, with new admission, every eight hours, and with any rhythm change. Measure and record PR, QT, and QRS intervals; interpret rhythm changes; document in the medical record; verify alarm settings every eight hours and adjust parameters with a registered nurse. Admit and discharge patients from central monitoring. Explain the procedure to patients. Provide telemetry monitoring; identify proper lead placement; attach electrodes upon admission. Upon discharge, clean telemetry monitors and place in appropriate storage area. Maintain telemetry equipment supplies. Inspect equipment for malfunction, troubleshoot failures, and notify biomedical engineering for repairs. Initiate CPR code when indicated; assist in CPR resuscitation, cardioversion, reprogramming of pacemakers, and other therapies while running EKG strips and documenting rhythm changes. Apply infection control principles in all areas of responsibility. Use equipment and supplies correctly and safely. Clean and return equipment to the appropriate location; report repair needs. Maintain a safe, clean, and orderly work environment through routine maintenance activities such as ordering and stocking supplies. Clean equipment and patient care areas; provide proper containment and disposal of discarded materials; report maintenance and security problems to appropriate personnel. Complete patient care assignments within a reasonable period and keep the registered nurse informed. Complete annual mandatory reviews; participate in continuing education at the unit/service level; identify personal learning needs and goals with supervision. Certifications and Physical Requirements BLS (Required for assignment) ACLS Certification (Required within 30 days of hire) Physical requirements: the work requires the ability to focus on continuous observation of numerous screens representing patients’ EKG activity; the employee must be alert at all times, respond quickly to alarms or signs of EKG changes; good visual acuity necessary to see EKG rhythms; ability to hear alarms; and rapid changes in position and movement. At least sitting, standing, walking, and carrying light instruments and supplies are involved. #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs