Health Technician Direct Care
About The Position
The Health Technician Direct Care assists in the care and management of patients in acute care and long-term care settings, providing clinical, technical, and direct patient care support. The incumbent must be skillful and flexible in establishing goals and priorities to meet the changing needs of clinical staff. The role involves admitting and orienting patients, performing basic nursing and monitoring tasks, documenting patient information, assisting with wound care and patient education, collecting laboratory specimens, and responding to patient needs. The position is full-time and offers either a PM shift from 3:00 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. or a night shift from 7:15 p.m. to 7:45 a.m. It is not a virtual position.
Requirements
- One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-05, in the normal line of progression for the occupation.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Complete the required application, questionnaire, and online assessment.
- Selected applicants for testing-designated VA employment are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment.
- Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
- Complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding process.
- Comply with the Department of Veterans Affairs seasonal influenza vaccination program for Health Care Personnel.
- Serve a one-year probationary period.
- Meet the physical demands of prolonged standing, walking, or sitting; lifting, positioning, pushing, or transferring patients; lifting supplies and equipment; and considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching.
Responsibilities
- Admit patients and orient them to their room and unit.
- Perform basic nursing skills, including measuring temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiration, and oxygen saturation; perform finger-stick glucose monitoring, oral suctioning, nasal swabs, and discontinuation of peripheral IV catheters.
- Perform bladder scans and record and report the results.
- Conduct purposeful hourly patient rounding, addressing pain, toileting, positioning, proximity, and pumps.
- Document patient information on flow sheets in the Electronic Health Record and/or on paper flow sheets.
- Notify the ICU telemetry monitoring technician when admitting a patient to telemetry.
- Provide a telemetry monitor, identify proper lead placement, and attach electrodes upon admission.
- Perform standard 12-lead EKGs using a multi-channel EKG machine.
- Identify basic rhythms and arrhythmias and communicate appropriately with the RN.
- Activate Code Blue and initiate CPR when indicated.
- Irrigate and dress wounds while maintaining a clean and, as appropriate, sterile field.
- Reinforce patient education provided by a physician or RN concerning infection prevention and signs and symptoms of infection.
- Collect ordered laboratory specimens, including performing phlebotomy when blood samples are ordered, following facility procedures.
- Respond appropriately and sensitively to patients who are dying and to their families and loved ones.
- Feed patients orally, including patients at risk for aspiration, after appropriate training.
Benefits
- Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on the position and eligibility.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
