Medical Instrument Technician (Cardiac Catheterization Technician)

Veterans Health Administration • Asheville, NC

11d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Instrument Technician (Cardiac Catheterization Technician) position is with the Nursing/Ambulatory Care Service at the Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Under a physician’s direction, the technician performs invasive and noninvasive diagnostic tests of the pulmonary and cardiovascular systems and operates, monitors, and collects data from instruments used during procedures. This is the full-performance GS-8 level, where the technician functions as a full member of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory team and proficiently performs all aspects of the lab’s work.

The technician supports complex diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures, including left and right heart catheterization, PTCA, stent placement, intra-aortic balloon pump therapy, IVUS, pressure-wire procedures, pericardiocentesis, temporary pacemakers, radial artery and peripheral procedures, permanent pacemaker placement, and AICD placement. The technician monitors procedure progress, uses independent judgment to anticipate procedural needs, and applies knowledge of vascular and coronary anatomy and cardiovascular physiology. The role also includes ordering lab-specific supplies, coordinating vendor communications and visits, ensuring medications are labeled and available, mentoring and training others, and assisting the cardiology manager with quality control and performance improvement activities.

The schedule is Monday through Friday, with variable day tours and a call requirement. Telework and virtual work are not available. The position requires a pre-employment physical evaluation and includes a one- or two-year trial period. Federal employment benefits are described in the posting, including health, vision, dental, life, and long-term-care insurance; retirement benefits; and certain parental leave and childcare subsidy eligibility.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience comparable to the GS-07 level, demonstrating the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics required for the GS-8 position.
• Ability to scrub, circulate, and monitor advanced procedures, including electrophysiological procedures, rotoblation, intravascular ultrasound, RADI or wave-wire, angiojet, filter wires, myocardial biopsies, EPS, permanent pacemaker insertions, AICD insertions, and biventricular pacemaker insertion.
• Advanced knowledge of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory equipment, medications, and supplies, and ability to set up, calibrate, operate, and troubleshoot equipment.
• Knowledge of waveforms from the great vessels and all heart chambers, including ability to distinguish normal from abnormal and artifact from abnormality and warn physicians of impending life-threatening situations.
• Knowledge of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory quality-control and performance-improvement indicators and ability to prepare and analyze quality-control test results.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation or examination and applicable background/security investigation and drug screening.
• Meet VA onboarding, identification, application-document, and seasonal influenza vaccination requirements.
• Serve a one- or two-year trial period.
• Ability to meet the listed physical requirements, including lifting up to 45 pounds, pushing, pulling, reaching, grasping, walking, frequent standing, kneeling, repeated bending, repetitive motion, and specified visual, hearing, cognitive, and emotional capabilities.

Nice To Haves

• Registration by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) as a Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist (RCIS) is highly desirable.
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Order Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory supplies, including catheters, balloons, stents, and sheaths.
• Coordinate communications with vendors and schedule vendor visits.
• Scrub, circulate, monitor, and operate equipment during complex examinations and treatment procedures, including intra-aortic balloon pump therapy for critically ill patients.
• Ensure medications are properly labeled and available for physician administration; demonstrate functional knowledge of cardiac medications, appropriate doses, and side effects.
• Assist with training and mentoring technicians, nurses, nursing students, and medical students.
• Assist the cardiology manager with quality control and performance improvement activities.
• Work with physicians to complete diagnostic and interventional invasive cardiac procedures, including LHC, RHC, PTCAs, stent placement, IABP, IVUS, pressure wires, pericardiocentesis, temporary pacemakers, radial artery procedures, peripheral procedures, permanent pacemaker placement, and AICD placement.
• Monitor the progression of procedures, exercise independent judgment, and anticipate the need for specific instruments or catheters.
• Apply knowledge of vascular and coronary anatomy and physiology related to cardiovascular function.
• Adhere to departmental, service, hospital, agency, and national regulations and policies.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with birth, adoption, or foster-care placement of a child.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and federal 401(k), with up to 5% in contributions by VA.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term-care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

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