Medical Supply Technician - Central Sterile Technician/Sterile Processing
- Employer
- USAJobs
- Location
- Richmond, Virginia
- Closing date
- Jun 22, 2021
View more
- Industry
- Government and Public Services, Federal
- Function
- Construction and Skilled Trades, Medical Doctor and Physician
- Hours
- Full Time
- Career Level
- Experienced (Non-Manager)
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Duties
Summary
The positions are located at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, in the Sterile Processing Department. The positions support direct patient care by ensuring proper reprocessing, maintenance, and storage of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) throughout the medical center in compliance with national and local policy and procedure.
Learn more about this agency
Responsibilities
Major duties include:
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Travel Required
Not required
Supervisory status
No
Promotion Potential
6
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
Note: 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.
Preferred Experience: Previous Sterile Processing experience highly preferred.
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) or International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) certification preferred.
Grade Determinations:
GS-03 (Entry Level): Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-04 (Developmental Level): Experience: Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; or Education: Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.
In addition to the experience or education above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
GS-05 (Developmental Level): Experience: One year of experience performing sterile processing for surgical and clinical instruments equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-04; or Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree.
In addition to the experience or education above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
GS-06 (Full Performance Level): Experience: One year of experience performing sterile processing for surgical and clinical instruments equivalent to the next lower grade level,
GS-05.In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.
References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G47, Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard, GS-0622
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.
Physical Requirements: The work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply, an din other services throughout the medical facility that SPS supports. You may be required to work in areas that are hot, old, drafty and poorly lighted. You may be subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending, pushing, and lifting of packages (occasionally weighting as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. On a regular and recurring basis, you will alternate between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The use and wear of special clothing, hair covers, personal protective equipment and shoe covers will be required.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
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.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Background checks and security clearance
Security clearance
Other
Drug test required
Yes
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations can be found at: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf .
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Summary
The positions are located at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia, in the Sterile Processing Department. The positions support direct patient care by ensuring proper reprocessing, maintenance, and storage of critical and semi-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) throughout the medical center in compliance with national and local policy and procedure.
Learn more about this agency
Responsibilities
Major duties include:
- Utilizes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.
- Responsible for the collection, receipt, inspection, cleaning and decontamination processing of soiled instruments, equipment, and apparatus.
- Completely and thoroughly dissembles and positions all parts of complex technical reusable medical equipment (RME).
- Performs required leak tests to endoscopic equipment.
- Performs multi-step procedures to effectively reprocess endoscopes and probes
- Operates decontamination equipment.
- Uses, interprets and records results from quality assurance monitors.
- Performs and validates all cleaning of instrumentation and RME utilizing department SOPs, manufacturer's instructions for use guidelines, Medical Center Memorandums, and VA policies and directives, along with industry standards published by organizations such as, Healthcare Central Service Material Management (IAHCSMM), American National Standard/Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (ANSI/AMMI), Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), etc.
- Reads and understands Material Data Safety Sheets.
- Performs inspection, assembly, packaging, and terminal sterilization of all trays, sets, and packs for use throughout the medical center.
- Determines the criticality category of RME using the Spaulding Classification System.
- Interprets gauge readings and mechanical printouts on sterilization equipment to validate that sterilization of RME is within acceptable parameters.
- Interprets printout for Automatic Endoscope Processors used for high level decontamination to ensure that disinfection has met all parameters.
- Maintains records for all sterilization procedures.
- Troubleshoots complex sterilizers used in the medical center to ensure optimal operation.
- Performs high level disinfection using Rapicide PA, or equivalent according to manufacturer's instructions for use guidelines.
- Validates chemicals are tested and meet requirements to ensure that Minimum Effective Concentration (MEC) for the performance of high-level disinfection.
- Assembles major and minor complex surgical instrument tray/sets.
- Prepares RME for surgical case carts according to physician preference and computer-generated picking lists for use in operating rooms.
- After sterilization, performs quality assurance activities and documents accordingly
- Follows manufacturer's written instructions and SOPs when reprocessing RME
- Effectively communicates with health care providers and medical center staff to problem solve in the event of RME shortages and need to substitute and/or offer alternatives.
- Properly monitors temperature, humidity, air flow, and air exchanges to ensure proper environment for RME reprocessing.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Travel Required
Not required
Supervisory status
No
Promotion Potential
6
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
- Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
- Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
- You may be required to serve a probationary period
- Subject to a background/security investigation
- Must be proficient in written and spoken English
- Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
Qualifications
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. Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; or Education: One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position (copy of transcript required); or Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education; or Grandfathering Provision: Current Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) employed in VHA on or before July 8, 2015 (copy of most recent SF-50 required). English Language Proficiency: Medical Supply Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy.
Note: 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.
Preferred Experience: Previous Sterile Processing experience highly preferred.
Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) or International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materiel Management (IAHCSMM) certification preferred.
Grade Determinations:
GS-03 (Entry Level): Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements.
GS-04 (Developmental Level): Experience: Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; or Education: Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.
In addition to the experience or education above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
GS-05 (Developmental Level): Experience: One year of experience performing sterile processing for surgical and clinical instruments equivalent to the next lower grade level, GS-04; or Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree.
In addition to the experience or education above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
GS-06 (Full Performance Level): Experience: One year of experience performing sterile processing for surgical and clinical instruments equivalent to the next lower grade level,
GS-05.In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
1. Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
2. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
3. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures.
4. Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation.
5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.
References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G47, Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) Qualification Standard, GS-0622
The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6.
Physical Requirements: The work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply, an din other services throughout the medical facility that SPS supports. You may be required to work in areas that are hot, old, drafty and poorly lighted. You may be subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending, pushing, and lifting of packages (occasionally weighting as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. On a regular and recurring basis, you will alternate between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The use and wear of special clothing, hair covers, personal protective equipment and shoe covers will be required.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html .
Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.
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.
Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.
If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Background checks and security clearance
Security clearance
Other
Drug test required
Yes
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:
- VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations (Required)
- Resume
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations can be found at: https://www.va.gov/vaforms/medical/pdf/vha-10-2850c-fill.pdf .
The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
- Cover Letter
- DD-214/ Statement of Service
- Disability Letter (Schedule A)
- Disability Letter (VA)
- OF-306
- VA Form 10-2850c Application for Associated Health Occupations (Required)
- Professional Certification
- Resume
- Separation Notice (RIF)
- SF-15
- SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
- Transcript
Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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