Medical Instrument Tech (Anesthesia)

Veterans Health Administration • Bay Pines, FL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The incumbent serves as the Medical Instrument Technician for the Anesthesia Service at Bay Pines VA Medical Center, providing anesthesia support throughout the Medical Center for surgical and diagnostic procedures requiring anesthesia. The work involves assisting with patient care and maintaining anesthesia equipment and supplies. This is a full-performance-level position (GS-08), in which the technician assists anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists with difficult anesthetic procedures under minimal supervision and exercises a high degree of independent judgment.

The technician prepares anesthesia machines and related equipment, assists with patient monitoring and procedures, maintains supplies and equipment, and follows reusable medical equipment, safety, and quality-control procedures. The technician may operate invasive hemodynamic monitoring equipment, anesthesia machines, ventilators, intubation bronchoscopes, and ultrasonic scanning devices; acquire medications as directed by an attending physician or CRNA; mentor and train others; and assist with quality-control and performance-improvement activities.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level, demonstrating knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the position.
• Knowledge of the correct use of invasive patient-monitoring equipment specific to anesthesiology.
• Knowledge of basic electrocardiography (EKG).
• Skill and ability to troubleshoot equipment, including while a patient is anesthetized.
• Skill and ability to maintain sterility during procedures.
• Knowledge of arterial pressure-line waveforms and ability to distinguish normal from abnormal readings and artifacts, and to alert the physician or anesthetist to an impending life-threatening situation.
• Knowledge of anesthesiology supplies, medications, and equipment appropriate for more difficult anesthetic procedures, including those involving acutely ill inpatients.
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is required.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, subject to the stated exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited under VA policy.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical examination and, if tentatively selected for a testing-designated position, urinalysis screening for illegal drug use.
• Must meet background/security investigation and onboarding requirements, provide acceptable identification, and complete the application requirements listed in the announcement.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Physical capacity for moderate lifting up to 25 pounds, moderate carrying of 15–25 pounds, pushing, reaching above the shoulder, repeated bending, prolonged walking and standing, and standing while wearing a lead apron for potentially up to 30 minutes; requires dexterity, clear speech, rapid mental and muscular coordination, specified vision and hearing abilities, and emotional stability.
• Education is not specifically required for this occupation; education may substitute for experience only at GS-4 and GS-5 levels.

Nice To Haves

• BCLS certification is required, although the announcement states that certification is desirable at this level.
• Current VHA employees in this occupation may qualify under the grandfathering provision if they meet its criteria.

Responsibilities

• Set up anesthesia machines in operating suites and designated locations outside the operating room before the scheduled workday, including breathing circuits, monitors, suction apparatus, and required disposable or reusable equipment.
• Set up IV lines and infusion pumps, and prepare pressure bags and lines for specialty catheters such as CVP, arterial, and PA catheters.
• Assist anesthesia professionals with patient monitoring, positioning and protective padding, monitor calibration, and insertion of invasive monitoring devices, using aseptic technique when needed.
• Operate and perform quality-control procedures on laboratory equipment used in the operating room, such as glucometers and i-STAT blood analyzers.
• Assist with regional anesthesia, including neuraxial techniques and nerve blocks requiring needle localization with a nerve stimulator and/or ultrasound.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and make minor repairs to anesthesia equipment, or arrange for Biomedical Engineering assistance.
• Monitor expendable and non-expendable supply needs and inform the appropriate service-line supervisor about equipment needs or unavailable critical supplies.
• Maintain stock levels of supplies and drugs in anesthesia machines, PYXIS, travel carts, and pre-op/PACU carts, with frequent checks throughout the day and at the end of the operating schedule.
• Follow Medical Center policies, SOPs, checklists, and manufacturer instructions for the use, setup, pre-cleaning, storage, and maintenance of reusable medical equipment.
• Remove malfunctioning equipment from use, initiate repairs, and report problems to the appropriate service-line supervisor and Biomedical Engineering.
• Keep anesthesia workrooms clean and safe, track equipment and supply inventories in coordination with the logistics technician, and alert anesthesia professionals to deficiencies.
• Comply with JCAHO requirements for storage and security of equipment and supplies, and OSHA requirements for handling and disposing of sharps and biohazardous waste.
• Connect and operate invasive hemodynamic monitoring equipment, anesthesia machines, ventilators, intubation bronchoscopes, and ultrasonic scanning devices.
• Acquire medications as directed by the attending physician or CRNA.
• May mentor and train lower-graded technicians, nurses, medical students, and anesthesia residents on anesthesia technology procedures.
• May assist the supervisor or manager with quality-control and performance-improvement activities.

Benefits

• Federal employee benefits package for the employee and family; specific benefits depend on position eligibility.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment and not guaranteed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed