Medical Instrument Technician (EKG)

Veterans Health Administration • Albany, NY

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Instrument Technician functions as an Electrocardiograph Technician (EKG) at the full-performance level and is part of the health care team on Acute/Critical patient care units in Nursing Service. The technician performs cardiac monitoring on Medical/Surgical and Intensive Care units, observes patients’ cardiac rhythms, and programs the central monitor unit with patient-specific parameters. The role requires identifying normal sinus rhythm and recognizing dysrhythmias, including potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.

The position is GS-7. The full performance role requires at least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade, including knowledge of equipment, standard tests and procedures, and typical readings such as arrhythmias and abnormalities. Two years of telemetry experience is preferred. The position has a day schedule from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with alternating weekends and holidays. Telework and virtual work are not available.

The position offers competitive salary with regular increases, paid time off, potential paid parental leave and childcare subsidy subject to eligibility, federal retirement benefits, and federal insurance options. Sign-on and relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade, demonstrating knowledge and skills related to the position.
• Experience providing knowledge of equipment, standard tests and procedures, and typical readings, including arrhythmias and abnormalities.
• Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress, including the ability to recognize, report, and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias.
• Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures, as well as common errors and corrective measures.
• Ability to modify procedures or positioning to obtain correct results for patients with complicating conditions such as amputations, Parkinson’s disease, structural defects, and scar tissue.
• Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower-graded technicians.
• Ability to conduct in-service training on EKG equipment and related instrumentation.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA policy exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and meet applicable background/security and onboarding requirements.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a two-year trial period.
• Education is not required for this occupation; education may substitute for experience only at GS-4 and GS-5 levels.
• Certification is not required. Applicants must meet the GS-7 grade requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Two years of telemetry experience.
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification.
• EKG-related certification is desirable at GS-6 or above.

Responsibilities

• Observe, gather, initiate, compile, and record telemetry data.
• Report cardiac rhythm changes and information about monitored patients.
• Observe the central telemetry monitor, record and identify changes in patients’ baseline cardiac rhythms, and promptly notify the nurse caring for the patient.
• Seek prompt assistance from appropriate staff when cardiac rhythm interpretation is beyond the technician’s expertise.
• Identify life-threatening dysrhythmias, take immediate action, and alert nursing staff to assess the patient.
• Monitor and document pertinent information during cardiac arrests and report changes to the patient’s nurse.
• Communicate with nursing personnel when patient monitoring parameters or electrode placement need to change.
• Provide direct, continuous visualization of the cardiac rhythm monitoring and surveillance system.
• Obtain, interpret, and document cardiac rhythm strips.
• Identify and record significant changes or abnormalities in baseline cardiac rhythms and notify nursing staff as changes occur.
• Record continuous cardiac rhythm strips as directed by an RN.
• Provide a hand-off report to the oncoming cardiac monitoring technician.
• Respond to cardiac monitoring system alarms.
• Troubleshoot cardiac monitoring equipment and notify the Charge Nurse or Supervisor of equipment problems.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including annual leave, sick leave, and 11 paid Federal holidays.
• Potential credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to approval.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment, subject to eligibility.
• Childcare subsidy for eligible full-time employees after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension, with five-year vesting.
• 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