Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)

Veterans Health Administration • East Orange, NJ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located in the Pulmonary Section, Sleep Lab, of Medical Service at the VA New Jersey Health Care System Medical Center. The Medical Instrument Technician operates and monitors computerized and other equipment in the Sleep Laboratory to obtain high quality polysomnographic studies. The technician is responsible for performance of sleep monitoring studies, occasionally assisting in technical analysis. The work is performed during an evening tour to accommodate a 40 hour week.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• 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.
• 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 form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents ).
• 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).
• 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above for applicants to have Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications.
• Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).
• GS-6 Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography): Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled.
• GS-7 Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography): Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled.
• GS-8 Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography): Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of standard, computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG and respiratory parameters.
• Knowledge of standard devices such as oximeters, respiratory effort devices, nasal pressure devices, thermistors, thermocouples, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, and laboratory computers including the ability to calibrate and operate the equipment and recognize and eliminate recording artifacts.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and medical record organization to review medical records, sleep study orders, consent forms, medical charts, etc.
• Knowledge of polysmnographic procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies, MSLT, MWT, PAP, etc.).
• Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology and the international 10-20 electrode placement system in order to conduct the sleep studies.
• Knowledge of CPAP function and operation to select and fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices.
• Ability to independently titrate and document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals.
• Knowledge of indications, complications, and contraindications of CPAP therapy.
• Ability to recognize changes seen during the PSG tracing and identify all stages of sleep. This includes the ability to score and analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnography recordings.
• Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders.
• Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form.
• Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) and ability to take appropriate action.
• Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians.

Nice To Haves

• RPSGT Credential
• NJ State Polysomnography License
• CPR Certification

Responsibilities

• Incumbent orients patients regarding nature and purpose of procedures being performed.
• Maintains a good rapport with patient to ensure maximum relaxation and cooperation is attained during the procedures.
• Calibrates and adjust equipment to obtain an accurate and technically acceptable record.
• Performs and appropriately documents all types of sleep disorder studies as specified by the Physician's order.
• Incumbent documents pertinent events and changes during the study.
• Maintains a log of patient data.
• Incumbent reports pertinent and significant data from previous night to Chief Technologist/Physician in charge of the department.
• Recognizes technical, mechanical, and patient-induced artifacts and takes appropriate steps to eliminate them.
• Incumbent follows specific protocol for oxygen and CPAP administration.
• Intervenes promptly and appropriately for respiratory and cardiac emergencies.
• Maintains and organizes the sleep laboratory and patient area before and after the patient leaves to ensure cleanliness and patient safety.
• Incumbent conducts weekly inventory, ordering supplies to replenish stock levels.
• Performs light clerical duties as needed.
• Performs sleep monitoring (PSG) on individuals with variety of sleep disorders, prepares, calibrates, interfaces, and operates all equipment used in polysomnographic procedures, recognize sleep apnea, sleep movements, nocturnal seizures, and parasomnias such as nocturnal myoclonus and rapid eye movement (REM) behavior disorder; makes adjustments in recording parameters to optimize performance of sleep studies, monitors patient, diagnostic equipment, recording and video equipment throughout the study; obtains artifact-free data and tracings; records significant observations, prepares, calibrates, interfaces, and operates all equipment used in polysomnographic procedures, perform a full range of standard, routine examinations including overnight sleep studies, MSLT (Multiple Sleep Latency Test), MWT (Maintenance of Wakefulness Test), and PAP (Positive Airway Pressure Titration).
• Performs a full range of standard, but complex, polysomnography examinations with responsibility for properly and accurately calibrating all instruments prior to the beginning of the PSG tracing and selection of appropriate electrode montages and sensitivity and filter settings to elicit the best possible tracings.
• Able to interact fully with the patient and physician to diagnose sleep disorders including those that are uncommon or rare.
• Able to conduct full sleep studies including overnight studies and evaluate the relationship of events, sleep stages, and possible medical conditions which influence or result from events occurring during sleep.
• Anticipate problems likely to occur during the sleep study and prepare for such situations, make changes in established procedures, or recommend alternative courses of action.
• Able to mentor lower graded technicians.
• Knowledge of Bi-level pressure titrations.
• Knowledge of advanced pressure titrations including Bi-level spontaneous/timed and Auto Servo-Ventilation.
• Recognize changes seen during the PSG tracing and identify all stages of sleep. This includes the ability to score and analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnographic recordings.
• Knowledge of advanced sleep study tracings such as seizure activity and parasomnias including REM Behavior Disorder.

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).
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience.
• 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)

What This Job Offers

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