Health Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Pittsburgh, PA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is within the Department of Veteran's Affairs, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS), located in the surgery service department. This position reports to the nurse manager of the same day procedure unit (SDPU), ambulatory surgery unit (ASU), and the post anesthesia care unit (PACU).

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Must complete all required steps in the process.
• Must complete an online assessment.
• 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
• The work involves long periods of moving about the work unit, as well as the facility.
• The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting, pushing, and pulling patients/stretchers, or similar activities.
• 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.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04.
• Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: understands written medical material, perform phlebotomy, uses aseptic technique, labels specimens, transports them to lab, and participate in teamwork and unit operations.

Nice To Haves

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, in an accredited college or university, meets the GS-5 level requirements for many positions covered by this standard.
• An combination of specialized experience and education beyond only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements.
• Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to one (1) year of specialized experience.

Responsibilities

• Performs 12 lead EKGs and gives printout to RN to provide to physician.
• Applies cardiac monitor electrodes + leads and initiates cardiac monitoring under direction of assigned RN or Charge Nurse.
• Performs or assists RN with personal care, such as body and oral hygiene, dressing/undressing, and toileting/elimination-ensuring patient privacy at all times.
• Assist RN in patient care.
• Assist in patient care as directed to include but not limited to dressing changes, turning, and positioning of patients, postmortem care and morgue transfers.
• Assists with transfers and ambulation of patients.
• Provides direct observation for both suicidal/homicidal patients, as well as those patients requiring direct observation for safety (e.g., fall or elopement risk).
• Answer call lights and communicates patients' needs to assigned RN or Charge Nurse.
• Collects and sends routine urine, stool, and sputum specimens from ASU/PACU/SDPU.
• Performs glucometer checks and notifies assigned RN or provider of results.
• Weighs patients on electronic or bed scales and records weight in CPRS vital signs package.
• Assists clinicians with procurement and set-up of equipment and supplies for procedures.
• Usage of safe patient handling and movement portable and ceiling lift equipment.
• Responsible for supporting the surgical service line staff by transporting the patient pre- and post-operatively between the waiting rooms and inpatient areas to the same day procedure unit, post anesthesia care unit and ambulatory surgery units.
• Identify the patient utilizing the patient's arm band and verifying identification confirming full name and social security number.
• Personal contact with the patient and their family and/or significant other(s) and at this time offers reassurance and emotional and physical support.
• Reports any observations and measures taken in any given emergency.
• Performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing the comfort and spirit of the patient.
• Identifies and reports data relative to more complex patient situations including changes in patients' behavior or condition
• Provide a superior level of customer service.
• Demonstrate compassion and understanding to family members accompanying surgical patients.
• Use appropriate channels of communication and assist internal and external customers to navigate through the perioperative process.
• Secure necessary methods of transportation (wheelchairs, litters, beds, transmotion chairs) to be available on the unit as needed.
• Clean, according to RME SOP, wheelchairs, litters and trasmotion chairs upon patient discharge to be available for the next patient.
• Dress all litters and transmotion chairs with appropriate covering and necessary patient items (gown, slippers, belonging bag, and bouffant cap) to be available for the next patient.
• Perform non-technical maintenance and routine unit safety checks (maintenance of equipment, battery change of rechargeable equipment, refrigerator and blanket warmer temperature checks, and unit maintenance logs).
• Perform routine non-critical reusable medical equipment cleaning permanufacturer guidelines and RME SOP.
• Stock rooms, carts, cabinets with all necessary supplies, check for outdates while stocking.
• Cleans vacated rooms of patients (i.e., strips linens, discards used or opened medical supplies, properly disposes of biohazardous waste).
• Notifies Charge Nurse immediately if unsecured medications are found anywhere in the department.
• Stock units with supplies from SPDU/ASU/PACU supply room.
• Notifies the CN when supplies are running low and need to be re-ordered.
• Maintains a clean working and uncluttered environment as directed, to include but not limited to utility room, bedside and specialty carts.
• Reviews for expired stocks and supplies and restock in areas such as specialty carts and clean utility rooms.
• Obtains and delivers supplies from SPD and device from Bio-med as needed.
• Performs daily calibration checks for glucometer.
• Reports discrepancies to CN.

Benefits

• A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package.
• As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.
• Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level