Medical Instrument Technician (Hemodialysis)

Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) operates and monitors dialysis procedures for chronic patients and may assist with acute patients when needed within Nursing services at Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr. VAMC.

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Duties

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The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) operates and monitors dialysis procedures for chronic patients and may assist with acute patients when needed. The technician has a thorough understanding of the principles of dialysis and understands medical treatment for patients with renal failure. The duties include but not limited to:

• Activate the water treatment system used to provide purified water for patients use in accordance with AAMI standards.
• Assure all pressure gauges on the reverse osmosis are registering properly and the deionization are producing water in excess of one million ohms specific resistance.
• Advise physicians and nurses about problems and make suggestions on how to correct the problems.
• Responsible for checking the water systems for chemical contamination such as chlorine, chloramines, water hardness, pH level 1, and bacteriological contamination.
• Activate the high ultrafiltration hemodialysis machines to normalize the conductivity and temperature while preparing the equipment for patient use.
• Assure that the dialysate and the limits for conductivity and temperature have been properly set.
• Set up the hemodialysis machines prior to the hemodialysis treatment.
• Check the pressure holding test for each individual machine.
• Document on the machine log sheet after machine checks are completed.
• Maintain sophisticated equipment (such as high ultrafiltration machines) their use of built-in diagnostic routines and measured performance.
• Restore equipment to proper operation when malfunctions are detected.
• Prepare sterilization solutions (such citric acid) at various dilutions for dialyzers, water systems and dialysis equipment.
• Sterilize all dialysis equipment used in patient care according to established guidelines.
• Document water treatment systems, dialysis machines, distribution lines for the acid and water recirculation system.

Work Schedule : 06:00am - 4:30m and 07:30am - 6:00pm (4 days, 10 hour rotation)

Telework : Not Available

Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 51070F

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.
• 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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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 identification 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).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels.
• 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.

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).

Grade Determinations :

Medical Instrument Technician (Hemodialysis) - GS-8 (Full Performance):

(a) 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 more complex procedures, the pharmacology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of the hemodialysis process and equipment needed for home/self care including knowledge of common machine problems and repairs to such equipment.

2. Knowledge of the equipment and procedures for peritoneal dialysis.

3. Ability to assist the physician with percutaneous renal biopsies and peritoneal catheter insertion.

4. Ability to provide instruction to dialysis patients in home/self care and in the maintenance of the equipment.

5. Ability to provide instruction for physicians, nurses, and other personnel in dialysis procedures, equipment operation and maintenance, etc.

c) Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications

Preferred Experience: CHT OR CCHT certification and 3 years of dialysis experience.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for 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. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. 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.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

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

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

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.

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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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.