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
• 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)
• Preferred Experience: 2-3 years of experience in Dialysis is preferred
• 2 years' experience performing Medical Instrument Technician Hemodialysis duties in an acute care or outpatient setting and BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications II
• SCOPE OF WORK Assignments involve performing hemodialysis procedures
• III
• QUALIFICATIONS- Knowledge of the hemodialysis process and equipment- Ability to provide instruction to dialysis patients in dialysis procedures, equipment operation and maintenance- Ability to provide instruction for Providers, Nurses, and other personnel in dialysis procedures, equipment operation and troubleshooting, etc
• Certification
• No certification is required
• however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications
• Grade Determination: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 related to the duties of the positions to be filled
• This would be experience which provided knowledge of the more complex procedures, the pharmacology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• Knowledge of the hemodialysis process and equipment needed for home/self care including knowledge of common machine problems and repairs to such equipment
• 2
• Knowledge of the equipment and procedures for peritoneal dialysis
• 3
• Ability to assist the physician with percutaneous renal biopsies and peritoneal catheter insertion
• 4
• Ability to provide instruction to dialysis patients in home/self care and in the maintenance of the equipment
• 5
• Ability to provide instruction for physicians, nurses, and other personnel in dialysis procedures, equipment operation and maintenance, etc
• References: VHA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G27/Appendix G- Medical Instrument Technician (Hemodialysis)The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Mechanical lifts are provided
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings.