Health Technician

Summary This position, at the full performance level, with appropriate competency validation(s), is assigned to one or more of the following areas overseen by the Nursing Service of the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System (VAAAHS) Patient Care Services. Responsibilities MAJOR DUTIES Diagnostic Testing and Therapeutic Processes. Supports professional, licensed providers, both nurses and physicians in designated clinical area using diagnostic and therapeutic medical instruments and equipment to perform non-invasive Electrocardiograms and Bladder Scans according to established procedures. Applies basic orthopedic splints and performs dressing changes in designated areas. Performs phlebotomy in designate Point of Care (POC) testing using glucometer and I-Stat devices and CLI authorized, according to established unit procedures. Documents treatment and / or telemetry identification conducted by the incumbent in the electronic medical record. Care and treatment of patients with critical and emergent conditions. The incumbent assists professional, licensed providers, including nursing staff and physicians, in the care and treatment of the critically ill and those with emergent needs. Observes and reports to the provider changes in patient behavior, attitude, bodily complaints, and appearance. Reports observations of the condition of acute or chronic phase patients such as excessive vomiting, bleeding, type and amount of drainage; deviation in baseline cardiac rhythm, pulse, skin tone and integrity, respiration, temperature, blood pressure, protection and patency of airway; and changes in wounds. Care and treatment of patients with acute and chronic mental health conditions. The incumbent provides non-professional nursing care to patients experiencing extremes of behavior on a regular and recurring basis. When patients express or display suicidal ideation, the incumbent intervenes by utilizing techniques per established procedures to keep the patient safe, and maintain personal safety, while awaiting assistance. Promotion Potential : The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Personal Patient Care. The incumbent performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing the comfort and spirit of the patient. In the absence of or non-availability of medical escort staff, the incumbent transports patients via wheelchair or gurney, accompanying ambulatory patients who need assistance reporting to various areas within the hospital including clinics, diagnostic areas, and treatment areas. Performs simple personal care duties such as bathing; demonstrates nursing standards for patient hygiene including bathing, oral, nail, and hair care. Assisting patients with physical limitations such as swallowing disorders with meals. Assists patients with toileting needs, providing incontinent care as necessary. Promotion Potential : This position is at the full performance level. Work Schedule : Night Tour, Hours to be Determined by Service Position Description / PD# : Health Technician / PD92902A Relocation / Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI) : Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not Authorized 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 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 (). 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider : your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12 / 22 / 2025. Individual Occupational Requirement : Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. Please ensure your resume / application supports the response that you select. Time-In-Grade Requirement : Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note : Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and / or education as described below : Specialized Experience : You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to : At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Health Technician. Specialized experience includes but not limited to; support professional, licensed providers, both nurses and physicians in designated clinical area using diagnostic and therapeutic medical instruments and equipment to perform non-invasive Electrocardiograms and Bladder Scans according to established procedures. Performs phlebotomy, testing using glucometer and I-Stat devices. Observes and reports to the provider changes in patient behavior, attitude, bodily complaints, and appearance. Experience in duties aimed at increasing the comfort and spirit of the patient. Experience in patient ambulatory care. Experience in assisting in personal care duties such as bathing; demonstrates nursing standards for patient hygiene including bathing, oral, and hair care. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position : Critical Thinking Interpersonal Effectiveness Patient Care Technical Competence Technical Competence Technical Competence 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. Note : 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. Physical Requirements : Provides non-professional nursing care to patients experiencing extremes of behavior on a regular and recurring basis. Responds to emergency mental health situations, where danger of physical attack by patients requires special training. When patients express or exhibit suicidal ideation, the incumbent intervenes by utilizing techniques per established procedures to keep the patient safe, and maintain personal safety, while awaiting assistance. The incumbent must be able to lift 35 lbs., perform the following : pulling, pushing, reaching above the shoulders and laterally, use of fingers, both hands, arms, and legs, sitting, walking, and standing for long periods. Also, he / she must able to hear whispered voices (with or without a hearing aid), kneeling, repeated bending, ability for rapid mental / muscular coordination simultaneously, visual requirements for monitoring observation, depth perception, and ability to distinguish shades of color due to equipment wiring. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. 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.