Dental Assistant - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized

Veterans Health Administration • Fargo, ND

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Fargo VA Health Care System is recruiting for 1 full-time Dental Assistant for the Surgical Care service line. A recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates. This occupational series may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP). The incumbent performs chairside dental assistant duties in all phases of restorative, prosthodontic, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal treatment as provided in the dental clinic or operating room. The employee operates dental X-ray equipment to take intra- and extra-oral radiographs. The employee also assists in training students from affiliated schools, observing and advising them as they perform their duties. In addition, the position is responsible for clinic and dental equipment maintenance, stocking of supplies and appropriate record keeping. Duties include, but are not limited to: Chairside Assisting, Dental Imaging, Infection Control and Equipment Reprocessing, Clinic Support, Patient Safety, Employee Education, Dental Laboratory Functions, Direct Patient Care, Operating Room, and dispensing and administering medications from Omnicell under doctor's orders.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• 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 forms of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement.
• Must complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• Will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period.
• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship.
• Experience: Six months experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work, or provides familiarity with the work.
• Education: Successful completion of a 1-year dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).
• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying.
• Certification: Provisions for Certification of Radiologic Competence: (a) Successful completion of the Dental Radiation Health and Safety Examination administered by the Dental Assisting National Board, Inc.; OR, (b) Successful completion of the Principles and Practice of Dental Radiology and Radiographic Safety courses and examinations developed by the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Dentistry. OR, (c) Successful completion of a radiation health and safety program or examination approved by a state board of dentistry or the Department of Defense (DoD).
• Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification of radiologic competence may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate dental assistant.
• English Language Proficiency.
• GS-3: None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4: In addition to the basic requirements, 1 year of experience at the next lower level, OR 2 years of education above high school that included completion of a dental assistant program accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Basic knowledge of infection control and safe instrument handling. 2. Basic knowledge of dental procedures and medical emergencies. 3. Ability to perform basic radiographic image capture and processing/retrieval. 4. Basic knowledge of maintenance, care and storage of dental equipment. 5. Basic knowledge of patient privacy requirements.
• GS-5: In addition to the requirements listed at GS-4 above, applicants must demonstrate at least 1 year of experience equivalent to at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. OR, Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study that included or was supplemented by completion of a dental assistant program by CODA. In addition to meeting paragraph (1) or (2) above, the applicant must demonstrate the following KSA's: 1. Knowledge of anatomy and ability to evaluate diagnostic quality. 2. Broad knowledge of common medical emergencies and vital signs measurement. 3. Basic knowledge of instruments, materials and standardized dental procedures. 4. Ability to learn and utilize software programs used within VHA. 5. Basic communication skills to provide patient instructions according to established protocol.
• GS-6 (Full Performance Level): At least 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs: 1. Ability to identify normal oral anatomy. 2. Advanced knowledge of instruments, materials, and standardized dental procedures used in all phases of restorative, surgical, endodontic and periodontal care and procedures. 3. Ability to monitor and perform basic interpretation of vital signs. 4. Ability to independently provide procedure-specific patient education and appropriate referral of patient concerns to treating dentist. 5. Ability to capture standard and special dental images of good diagnostic quality in traditional or digital formats. 6. Ability to perform maintenance on dental equipment used for routine and specialty dentistry. 7. Ability to enter and retrieve data utilizing electronic dental records. 8. Ability to perform dental assistant-appropriate laboratory procedures.

Nice To Haves

• A recruitment/relocation incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates.
• This occupational series may be eligible for the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP).
• Certification by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is not required, but highly desirable for the appointment of Dental Assistants up to and including the full performance level.

Responsibilities

• Performs chairside dental assistant duties in all phases of restorative, prosthodontic, surgical, endodontic, and periodontal treatment as provided in the dental clinic or operating room.
• Operates dental X-ray equipment to take intra- and extra-oral radiographs.
• Assists in training students from affiliated schools, observing and advising them as they perform their duties.
• Responsible for clinic and dental equipment maintenance, stocking of supplies and appropriate record keeping.
• Dispenses and administers medications from Omnicell under doctor's orders.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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)
• 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.
• 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.
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree