Summary The Charleston VA Healthcare Network seeks a Medical Instrument Technician (Hemodialysis), GS-8, for Nursing, Specialty Service. This role supports adult and geriatric Veterans by assisting RNs with safe, effective dialysis care.
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Major duties may include, but are not limited to: - The MIT coordinates equipment setup, treatment initiation/termination, water system monitoring, supply management, documentation, and Veteran/caregiver support to ensure continuous, high-quality operations in the Dialysis Unit and when required, inpatient/ICU settings.
- Performs hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis per provider orders and policy; supports care for acutely ill and ICU patients; assists with percutaneous renal biopsies (specimen handling) and peritoneal catheter insertions; and delivers home/self-care dialysis education per program protocols. Maintains competency in AV fistula/graft cannulation, machine operation, alarm response, and water system checks; promptly alerts RN/provider to status changes; and adheres to all Medical Center and dialysis-specific standards including AAMI, Joint Commission, OSHA, and Infection Control.
- Prepare patient and treatment area; perform pre, intra, and post-treatment assessments and monitoring.
- Initiate and terminate hemodialysis; perform peritoneal dialysis as ordered; provide post-procedure support.
- Cannulate AV fistulas/grafts per competency and policy; identify early signs of complications (such as hypotension, disequilibrium, seizures, or arrhythmias) and take immediate actions within scope, escalating concerns to the RN or provider.
- Set up, calibrate, operate, and troubleshoot dialysis machines; perform routine maintenance, cleaning/disinfection; maintain accurate machine and water system logs.
- Monitors water treatment systems and portable RO units to ensure parameters meet AAMI standards; prepare machines for culturing, coordinate vendor testing, and retain records.
- Performs daily/weekly/monthly/annual checks and quality controls (dialysate chemistries, water treatment testing, reagent/equipment QC).
- Maintains compliance with Joint Commission, OSHA, AAMI, VA Infection Control, and local dialysis policies; participate in unit performance improvement and report water quality testing results.
- Provides instruction to patients/caregivers on home/self-care dialysis and basic equipment maintenance; reinforce adherence and safety.
- Assists in training physicians, nurses, and technicians on dialysis techniques and water system operations, support orientation and in-service sessions.
- Documents procedures, assessments, vital signs, machine parameters, quality checks, and specimen handling in the electronic medical record and required logs.
- Maintains inventory and order supplies, compile data for program reporting.
Work Schedule : Monday-Saturday, 9:00 am-7:30pm. (With possible intermittent coverage for the 5:30am - 2:00pm shift)
Recruitment Incentive (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 # : 61962F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Requirements Help
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.
- Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
- 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 :
a.
Citizenship . Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)
b.
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.
c.
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.
Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all Title 38 Hybrid qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education and/or licensure/certification/ registration requirements that apply to this occupation.
All persons employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
Such employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted, or demoted within the occupation.
Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
Such employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels.
Hemodialysis Technicians operate and monitor kidney dialysis instruments to provide dialysis treatment to patients with kidney failure or to maintain patients with irreversible kidney disorders. The agencies that offer national certification are Nephrology Certification Commission (NNCC), Board of Nephrology Examiners, Inc., Nursing and Technology (BONENT), National Nephrology Certification Organization (NNCO), and the International Certification Commission for Clinical Engineering and Biomedical Technology (ICC) in conjunction with the United States Certification Commission (USCC).
Grade Determination: GS-8
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 :
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.
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: Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)
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 will be selected for this vacancy is GS-08.
Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019.
Additional information The Charleston VA & its CBOC's are committed to hiring a diverse workforce from various backgrounds and individuals who demonstrate a diversity, equity and inclusion-related mindset and behaviors. We are strongly seeking candidates who represent the full range of cultural and identity factors including but not limited to race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation/identity, gender identity and expression, age, language, abilities/disabilities, socioeconomic status, religion, spiritual practices, geographic region, and other characteristics.
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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