Medical Supply Technician at Boise

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy ID: 919273 

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise – “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” – by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs employees who possess the energy, compassion, and commitment to serve those who served our Country. Whatever the job title, every position in VA will give you a chance to make a meaningful and personal contribution to the lives of truly special and deserving people - our Veterans. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities. Working for VA is one of the most emotionally satisfying and professionally rewarding ways to dedicate the best within you to your Countrys service. If you are transitioning from the military or a Veteran already, we invite you to explore the benefits of continuing your career at the VA. The VA is committed to hiring Veterans.

The VA is much more than just another employer. It is an honorable, open and welcoming community of those who care. Gratitude is our motivation and service is our mission.

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define “who we are,” our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence (“I CARE”).

Americas Veterans need you! To find out more, go to http://www.va.gov/jobs/.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• You will be subject to a background/suitability investigation.

DUTIES:Back to top

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder.  The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-6.  At the GS-5 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence.  You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-6.  Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.

This position is located in the Sterile Processing Service at the VA Medical Center in Boise, ID.  As a Medical Supply Technician, you will be assigned to the Decontamination and Preparation area performing a variety of duties to include assembling a full range of sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room.  Major duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assembles simple sets from four instruments to a very complex set of up to ninety;
• Assembles delicate micro-surgical sets such as micro-surgical ear set, ENT plastic set for procedures requiring plastic surgery, micro-surgical eye instruments, etc.;
• Assembles and selects the correct sterilizing method for a variety of costly and delicate equipment such as flexible Bronchoscopes, Choledochoscope, Resectoscope, and other flexible and rigid endoscopes;
• Prepares a full range of Operating Room case carts daily and in emergency situations;
• Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing, and use of ultrasonic equipment;
• Determines correct method for cleaning and sterilization;
• Selects correct sterilization method for items to be sterilized;
• Provides training and orientation to medical personnel on sterile supply techniques and procedures.
  

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, Full-Time, 1:00pm to 9:30pm (NOTE:  There is an initial 5 month training period on the day shift which is Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm)

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

***RELOCATION EXPENSES AND/OR INCENTIVES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED***

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

To apply for this position, you must have the following qualifications.

EXPERIENCE: Candidates must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower graded level in Federal Service.  Specialized experience is defined as experience that has provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of a Medical Supply Technician.
GS-5: Qualifying specialized experience includes assisting in the processing, assembling, trouble-shooting, preparing, sterilizing, storing, and issuing sterile and unsterile medical supplies and equipment; knowledge of the technical names, general uses, physical characteristics, and operating conditions of medical supply items; knowledge of decontamination, cleaning, preparation, sterilization, and storage procedures with supervision; knowledge of aseptic techniques and performed with supervision; and skill in operating a washer-sterilizer, ultrasonic instrument cleaners, and gas and steam sterilizers with supervision.

GS-6: Qualifying specialized experience includes processing, assembling, trouble-shooting, preparing, sterilizing, storing, and issuing sterile and unsterile medical supplies and equipment; knowledge of the technical names, general uses, physical characteristics, and operating conditions of medical supply items; knowledge of decontamination, cleaning, preparation, sterilization, and storage procedures; knowledge of aseptic techniques; and skill in operating a washer-sterilizer, ultrasonic instrument cleaners, and gas and steam sterilizers.
A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week.  Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities.  Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
GS-5: Successful completion of four (4) years of education above high school leading to a bachelors degree that included courses related to this position. 

GS-6: You must have successful completed one-half year of graduate education (nine semester hours), or an internship in a directly related field.
Education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college or university.  To qualify based solely on education alone, you must include a copy of your transcript with your name, name of school, degree earned and date, grades earned, credit hours, major(s), and grade point average or class ranking with your resume or application form.

COMBINING EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (COPY OF TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED):
Combinations of successfully completed education and experience may be used to meet total qualification requirements.
You will be rated on the following Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other characteristics (KSAOs) as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

• Knowledge of medical and surgical terminology, human anatomy and physiology, and surgical instrumentation.
• Knowledge of aseptic principles and techniques including characteristics of various types of detergents, cleaning techniques, and sterilization methods.
• Ability to operate sterilization equipment and monitor quality control testing.
• Knowledge of inventory management principles, practices, and concepts to include storage, handling, and stock rotation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with people from varying backgrounds and various levels of understanding.
  

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: You will be required to stand and move from one part of the room to another while performing duties. There is a frequent requirement for lifting baskets weighing up to twenty-five pounds from floor level to chest level and occasional requirements for similarly lifting baskets weighing up to fifty pounds. You will regularly push loaded carts weighing several hundred pounds and work them over slight rises such as door sills. You must be able to read, write, and organize. Tension and stress are induced by the critical nature of producing work results on a pre-established time frame as well as in emergent situations.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Managements website at http://www.opm.gov/qualifications .

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC.  WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.  If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

APPLICANTS PLEASE NOTE: 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. Please refer to this checklist to ensure proper accreditation and for foreign education requirements.

Veterans Preference:

When applying for Federal jobs, eligible veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of DD-214(s) showing all dates of service as well as character of service (honorable, general, etc.). Additionally, veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more must also submit a copy of their official statement from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or from a branch of the Armed Forces, certifying their service-connected disability and/or their receipt of compensation for service-connected disability.  If the military member is within 120 days of separation and does not yet have a DD214, the member may instead submit any written document from the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed.

Veterans with service-connected disability of less than 10%, non service-connected disability, and Purple Heart recipients, as-well-as those claiming derived preference for a spouse, widow or widower, or natural mother, should refer to and submit a completed " SF15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference," (go to http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf) and required documentation with your application materials. For more information on Veterans Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/veterans.aspx.

 

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Applicants will be ranked based on four quality groups, as follows:

• Best qualified - applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
• Highly qualified - applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
• Well qualified - applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
• Qualified - applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

After the vacancy announcement closes, reviewed applications are evaluated against the questionnaire responses and placed in the appropriate quality group.  Qualified veterans will be afforded preference by being placed at the top of the appropriate quality group.  Qualifying veterans with a service-connected disability of 10% or more will be placed at the top of the best qualified group.  The best qualified group is the first to be referred to the hiring facility for further consideration and possible interview.  The remaining groups may be referred based on the number of applicants available.

Country: USA, State: Idaho, City: Boise, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.