Summary The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) position is located in the Telemetry Unit within the Nursing Service Line at the New Mexico VA Health Care System. The MIT's functions are to monitor the patient's electrocardiogram (EKG) waveforms in a centralized station and notify the appropriate clinical staff as directed. Responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities: Medical Instrument Technicians at this level operate and monitor commonly used equipment under normal supervision. Unanticipated problems and unfamiliar situations are referred to the supervisor or designee for a decision or help. The technician provides continuous cardiac rhythm interpretation and reporting of monitor tracings of patients to appropriate clinical staff. The technician performs cardiac monitoring activities that include initiating, monitoring, recording, interpreting, documenting, and discontinuing telemetry. Other MIT duties include, but are not limited to the following: - Continuously monitors EKG tracings. - Interprets a variety of normal and abnormal EKG tracings and communicates the information to appropriate clinical staff - Recognizes changes in patients' condition and is astute in identifying the need for intervention - Has practical knowledge of treatment procedures (e.g. cardioversions) - Has knowledge of medical terminology, cardiac conditions, effects of medical and nursing therapies - Operates and monitor EKG equipment - Has knowledge of equipment, materials, and supplies, used to perform telemetry - Maintains patient cardiac rhythm tracing record and other accompanying documentation - Edits and selects appropriate sample portions of tracing for review by provider - Sets alarm parameters established by the provider - Follows emergency procedures - Routinely evaluates the integrity of equipment both prior to placement on patient and during the patient's telemetry monitoring. Maintains and keeps track of telemetry equipment as patients are discharged and transferred - Evaluates patients for discharge from telemetry in collaboration with providers - Performs supplemental downtime duties which may include additional patient care tasks. Work Schedule: Rotating Schedule Monday - Sunday Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Requirements 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. 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). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade 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 related to health care. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 1. Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions. 2. Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, and settings of the equipment to be used. 3. Ability to learn and interpret rhythm strips. 4. Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted. 5. Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for cardioversions and to recognize and report obvious abnormalities. 6. Ability to operate telemetry equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures. 7. Ability to connect leads to telemetry boxes. 8. Ability to clean telemetry boxes following CDC cleaning guidelines. 9. Ability to communicate orally and in writing. 10. Ability to obtain and maintain Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications. 11. Ability to obtain and maintain Telemetry Certification (as defined at the unit level). OR Education. Applicant must have completed a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included 24 semester hours of courses related to health care and/or medical instrument technician functions. 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: Appendix E - Electrocardiograph Technician (EKG) (1) 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. Ability to recognize special patient needs such as disabilities, impaired mobility, and complicating medical conditions in order to prepare and position the patient for the prescribed procedure. 2. Knowledge of the specialized equipment and accessories appropriate to Holter monitoring and ability to perform such tests. 3. Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment. 4. Ability to monitor the patient for adverse reactions and take appropriate action. 5. Ability to operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing. (c) Certification. No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification. (d) Assignment. Medical instrument technicians (EKG) at this level receive and interpret physician's requests for diagnostic procedures and/or treatments; explain the procedure to the patient to secure the patient's confidence and cooperation; document the patient's record; independently perform standardized testing monitoring the patient for adverse reactions; and operate, calibrate, and clean and/or sterilize commonly used equipment. Assignments at this level require knowledge of standard medical terminology as well as common diseases and their specific affects. Preferred Experience: None Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information 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. 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. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.