Medical Instrument Technician (Cardiac Cath)

Summary

The Marion VA Health Care System is actively recruiting a full-time Medical Instrument Technician (Cardiac Cath) to join the Cardiology Department within Nursing Service located in Marion, IL.

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Duties

The incumbent will primarily be assigned to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Cardiology Clinic. The incumbent demonstrates knowledge and competency in hemodynamic monitoring and early recognition of cardiac lethal dysrhythmias.

This position provides technical assistance to the Cardiologist during all procedures occurring in the Catheterization Lab. These duties include, but are not limited to, left heart catheterization, right heart catheterization, and temporary pacemakers.

The incumbent monitors the progression of procedures; assist the manager in improving technical training of new employees and students as well as directing patient inquiries to appropriate person. This position position potentially required flexibility in schedule and assignments, as this is a 24/7 hospital. The incumbent may be required to rotate tours and duties during low/high census or complete administrative tasks established by the immediate supervisor.

Not all duties listed, so others may be assigned:

The incumbent is responsible to ensure the highest possible quality of care is achieved and that a safe therapeutic environment is provided. The incumbent communicates with patients, family members, internal and external co-workers, and customers in a courteous, tactful, helpful, and understanding manner. The incumbent is administratively responsible to the Nurse Manager of Medicine Specialty and responsible for other team members. The incumbent is required to be BLS and ACLS certified and position is not eligible for telework.

PLEASE NOTE: These positions require Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications. If selected, Applicants will provide proof of current certifications prior to employment. Only BLS certification which included Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and ACLS certification obtained from either the American Heart Association (AHA) or the Military Treatment Training Network (MTN) will be accepted.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding Federal holidays

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 000000

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• 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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• 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 dentification 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
  
  

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.
• Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments, specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under "Titles and Certification/Registrations".
• English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.
  
  

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).

Grade Determinations:

• Education/Training. To be creditable education must have been gained in an accredited Community College, College, or University
• Training. Completion of appropriate training such as in-service training programs, on the job training, training acquired while in the Armed Forces, government sponsored developmental training programs, and/or training under physicians certified in the functional area will be allowed on a month-for- month basis through the GS-5 level.
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Specialized developmental experience obtained under supervision of appropriately certified individuals may be credited at higher levels and is addressed in individual appendices
  
  

Medical Instrument Technician (Cardiac Cath): Basic Developmental Levels

GS-4:

• Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level GS-03 which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. Six months of this experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The remaining six months must have been in operating diagnostic and therapeutic equipment covered by this occupation. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited at this level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  
  

OR

• Education. Successful completion of two years of education above high school or an associate degree with a major field of study directly related to the medical instrument technician occupation.
  
  

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

• Knowledge of basic medical terminology.
• Ability to learn the components, operating characteristics, and settings of the equipment to be used.
• Ability to learn typical patient reactions to the basic procedures involved and ability to recognize signs of distress.
• Ability to learn the standard positions for the procedure being conducted.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
  
  

Assignments: At this level assignments are trainee in nature. The medical instrument technician trainee is performing limited routine assignments of a developmental nature under close supervision.

GS-5:

• Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level GS-04 which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. This would be experience in operating equipment related to the particular specialization for which application is made or in related functional areas. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  
  

OR

• Education. Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, or a bachelor's degree in a major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions.
  
  

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

• Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions.
• Knowledge of common physical disabilities and ability to position patients for the examination or treatment.
• Ability to learn the normal and abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize and report obvious abnormalities.
• Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures.
• Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine.
  
  

Assignment: Medical Instrument Technicians (Trainee) at this level operate and monitor commonly used equipment performing routine procedures under normal supervision. The technician functions somewhat independently in carrying out these standardized procedures of limited complexity. Deviations from regular procedures, unanticipated problems, and unfamiliar situations are referred to supervisor for a decision or help. Some assignments at this level also include developmental duties involving more complex procedures designed to prepare the technician for promotion to higher grades in a functional area. Such duties would be performed under closer supervision.

GS-6:

• 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 positions to be filled. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
  
  

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the heart and basic electrocardiography.
• Knowledge of sterile techniques, catheterization laboratory supplies, and equipment used in the procedure.
• Ability to circulate, assist, monitor and document hemodynamics and electrocardiograms during the procedure.
• Ability to set up and adjust the ultrasound equipment to meet the conditions of the examination and the patient and to operate the equipment for standardized, routine procedures.
• Knowledge of and ability to prepare intra-aortic balloon catheters.
  
  

Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification is desirable.

Assignment: The cardiac catheterization technician at this level aids physicians in aspects of cardiac catheterization and related invasive procedures such as coronary angioplasty, pulmonary angioplasty, and intra-aortic balloon insertion. The technician must be able to recognize cardiac arrhythmias and take appropriate action.

• QUALIFICATION STANDARDS CONTINUED BELOW ON THE "EDUCATION TAB" OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT:
  
  

Education

GS-7:

• 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 positions to be filled. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  
  

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to assist with insertion of temporary transvenous pacemaker catheters.
• Ability to maintain intra-aortic balloon pump equipment during procedure.
• Ability to complete individual cases by pulling sheaths and holding pressure to obtain hemostasis.
• Ability to assist with closure devices.
• Ability to appropriately educate patients and patient families regarding procedures and post-catheterization care.
• Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.
  
  

Assignment: The cardiac catheterization technician at this level aids physicians in aspects of cardiac catheterization and related invasive procedures such as coronary angioplasty, pulmonary angioplasty, and intra-aortic balloon insertion. They select, set up, and calibrate surgical instruments, catheters, radiographic contrast injectors, and radiographic imaging devices.

GS-8:

• Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics of the positions to be filled. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  
  

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to scrub, circulate, and monitor advanced procedures (including electrophysiological) to include 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 equipment, medications, and supplies used in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and the ability to set-up, calibrate, operate, and troubleshoot this equipment.
• Knowledge and understanding of wave forms from the great vessels and all chambers of the heart including the ability to recognize and distinguish normal from abnormal, artifact from abnormality, and forewarn the physician of an impending life-threatening situation.
• Knowledge of quality control and performance improvement indicators for the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and ability to prepare and analyze quality control of test results.
  
  

Preferred Experience: Two (2) years of recent Cardiac Catheterization Lab experience from a hospital setting within the last 5 years and BLS/ACLS certification.



Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-4 to GS-8.



Physical Requirements: Must be able to communicate effectively with Veterans and staff via phone and in person (with or without adaptive equipment), unusual fatigue factors (emotional stress), protracted or irregular hours of work, work closely with others, light lifting (under 15 pounds), light carrying (under 15 pounds), prolonged close computer work, prolonged work in surgical mask, reading and writing (prolonged periods with or without adaptive equipment), bright artificial lighting, constant noise (shared workspace), and ability to rapidly switch between tasks.



Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

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