Medical Instrument Technician (Hemodialysis)

Summary

As an integral member of the Dialysis/Renal interdisciplinary team, the Medical Instrument Technician (Hemodialysis) contributes to various duties essential for maintaining a well-functioning unit. The technician comprehends the principles of dialysis, treatment elements, and potential complications. This position is located at Audie L. Murph VAMC in San Antonio, Texas within Nursing, Acute Care Service.

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Duties

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Duties may include but are not limited to:

-Operate diagnostic and therapeutic equipment for kidney failure treatment.

-Perform routine maintenance, troubleshoot issues, conduct disinfection, monitor water quality, and prepare dialysate. Keep accurate maintenance records and submit work orders for any necessary corrective maintenance if any of the dialysis machines are not functioning according to the manufacturer's specifications.

-Set up dialysis machines and transport equipment for treatments. Perform necessary maintenance and adjustments.

-Ensure that all dialysis machines used in dialysis are rinsed daily and disinfected according to the schedule, including complete documentation.

-Clean and disinfect Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) following SOPs and manufacturer's guidelines.

-Monitor water treatment systems and collect specimens for analysis. Maintain quality control records.

-Ensure that all dialysis machines, including their maintenance, are monitored by executing the following tasks: routine station cleanup, dialysis machine disinfection, water treatment cleaning, pre-treatment safety checks, water quality testing, equipment function monitoring, and thorough documentation.

-Stay updated on American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standards and regulatory guidelines (Joint Commission, OSHA).

-Follow safety policies and participate in quality assurance and performance improvement activities. Report on machine maintenance and water quality.

-Collaborate with various hospital services and outside contractors for equipment-related issues.

-Educate new staff, hospital employees, patients, families, and Renal Fellows on dialysis principles and equipment.

-Maintain and update policies and procedures related to equipment functioning and water quality testing.

-Proactively monitor dialysis supplies and equipment and assist nursing leadership with financial planning related to machines and supply needs.

-Perform cannulation following demonstrated competency and unit policy. Respond to physician/Registered Nurse (RN) instructions and independently perform tasks for stable patients.

-Promote environmental stewardship by reporting water leaks and alerting maintenance, turning off all equipment when not in use, advocating for better equipment, and choosing sustainable supplies.

Work Schedule : Rotating shifts that may include days/nights/weekdays/weekends/holidays: 5:00a.m. to 3:30p.m., 5:30a.m. to 4:00p.m., 7:00a.m. to 5:30p.m., 10:30a.m. to 9:00p.m.

Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized

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)

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 54814-F/54813-F/54812-F/00000/00001

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.
• Pre-Employment/Post-Employment Physical Examination: May be required, depending on the needs of the organization
• 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 1 or 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

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. 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.

Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

Grandfathering Provision. 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 :

Basic Developmental Levels

GS-4

(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 position to be filled. Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

OR ,

(b) Education. Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate's degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation.

(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of basic medical terminology.

2. Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, and settings of the equipment to be used.

3. Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress.

4. Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted.

5. Ability to communicate orally and in writing.

GS-5

(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 position to be filled. This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular 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:

OR,

(b) 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.

(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions.

2. Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment.

3. Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities.

4. Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures.

5. Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine.

Appendix G - Medical Instrument Technician (Hemodialysis)

GS-6

(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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Skill in setting up, operating, and performing calibrations as required on a variety of dialysis equipment.

2. Skill in performing and interpreting test results (dialysate chemistries, water treatment testing for contaminates, etc.) including the ability to analyze deviations from the expected norm and responding appropriately.

3. Knowledge of American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AMMI) standards and unit policies as they relate to water treatment.

4. Knowledge of physiological and psychological changes and conditions related to end stage renal disease.

5. Ability to calculate dialysis baths according to the physician's orders per patient by mixing critical concentrates, i.e., calcium, potassium, and bicarbonate.

6. Knowledge of Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS).

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

GS-7

(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 the equipment, standard procedures, and typical machine problems and/or patient reactions to treatment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to assist the physician in more complex procedures such as central venous catheter insertion.

2. Ability to assist in training patients in home/self-care by teaching components of machine operation including water treatment and monitoring patients for compliance.

3. Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians.

4. Ability to analyze deviations from the expected, determine whether the deviations are machine or patient related, and respond according to the findings.

(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.

Qualifications are continued in the Additional Information section of this announcement

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

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

Qualifications are continued below:

GS-8

(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 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:

-3 to 5 Years of current dialysis experience for both inpatient and outpatient settings

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-08.

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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