Career Center

Summary

This position is located in the Sterile Processing Service - under Nursing Services at the Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany - New York. The incumbent will perform decontamination - inspection - preparation - packaging and sterilization services as well as supply items of semi-critical/critical reusable medical equipment for the medical center.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship
• Citizen of the United States
• Experience and/or Education Experience
• Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's 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
• OR Experience/Education Combination
• Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• Certification
• None
• 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
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.This work is performed in various settings: decontamination - preparation - clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus
• The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are may at times be warm/hot - drafty or varied light
• The employee is 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 and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds)
• The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating - disassembly and assembly of instrumentation
• English Language Proficiency
• MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - this part
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS Creditable Experience Knowledge of Current MST Practices
• To be creditable - the experience must have demonstrated the knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) associated with MST responsibilities
• Experience satisfying this requirement may be paid/non-paid employment as a MST
• Quality of Experience
• Qualifying experience must be at a level comparable to MST experience at the next lower grade level of the position being filled
• For all assignments above the full performance level - the higher level duties must consist of significant scope - administrative independence - complexity (difficulty) and range of variety as described in this standard at the specified grade level and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• Part-Time Experience
• Part-time experience as a MST is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a MST employed 20 hours a week - or on a 1/2-time basis - would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service
• In addition to the Basic Requirements above - applicants must also meet the Grade Determinations below: GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience
• One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following 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
• Assignment
• This is the full performance level for the occupation
• Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment in the decontamination area as well
• Disassembles the RME and determines the correct cleaning method - such as but not limited to ultrasonic cleaners - mechanical washers - cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents - as determined by manufacturer instructions
• Inspects - assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for final processing such as but not limited to steam or hydrogen peroxide (H202) sterilization or high-level disinfecting
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
• Certification: Within one year of hire - the employee is to have obtained VA SPS Certification through the Office of Sterile Processing (OSP)
• This certification is achieved after completion of prerequisites which include 400 hours of hands-on reprocessing and attestation by the SPS Chief and successful passing of the certification examination
• All materials for exam - preparation and time allowance for taking the exam are provided without charge by the VA
• Preferred Experience: 1-2 years experience in sterile processing service in a medical setting
• national Sterile Processing certification highly desired
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83 PART II APPENDIX G47The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6.

Duties

• The Albany VA Medical Center is currently recruiting for a Medical Supply Technician for the Sterile Processing Service
• The incumbent will perform decontamination - inspection - preparation - packaging and sterilization services as well as supply items of semi-critical/critical reusable medical equipment for the medical center
• The term \"supply item\" as used in this functional statement refers to reusable medical devices used for patient care including - semi-critical equipment (such as ultrasound probes - flexible endoscopes - TEE's) and critical reusable medical equipment - such as instrumentation used in surgical or clinic trays and sets (scissors - forceps - retractors - etc.) and various other items that could be reprocessed through the Decontamination - Preparation and High-level disinfection/Sterilization areas of Sterile Processing Service
• Must be able to clean - assemble instrument sets - sterilize - HLD simple and complex RMD
• Reusable Medical Devices RMD: The incumbent will have knowledge of the processes for Reusable Medical Device (RMD) as required by this position
• The incumbent will be required to maintain current knowledge of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for cleaning - disinfection - sterilization and preparation of RMD appropriate to this position
• The incumbent will be able to demonstrate their ability to utilize an acceptable proficiency in the use of RMD appropriate to this position
• The incumbent handles contaminated critical and semi-critical RMD that may include - but is not limited to - transporting and/or receiving into the decontamination area
• Disassembles the semi-critical/critical RMD and based on manufacturer's instructions for use (IFU) and any associated standard operating procedure determines the correct cleaning method - such as using the following to include but not limited to: ultrasonic cleaners - mechanical washers - cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents as determined by manufactures instructions
• Inspects - prepares - assembles sets following prescribed guidelines and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization based on the manufacturer's instructions for use and associated reprocessing standard operating procedure (SOP) that includes but not limited to steam - hydrogen peroxide (H202) and high-level disinfecting that will include but not limited to automated endoscope reprocessors (AER) - and liquid high-level disinfection
• may prepare operating room case carts with instrument sets daily utilizing surgery schedule
• Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids and other contaminants by wiping - soaking - rinsing and scrubbing following the manufacturers' instruction for use and any associated SOP
• Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization - assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including but not limited to those used in various clinics - the endoscopy department and operating room
• Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination - sterilization and inspection of semi-critical and critical reusable medical equipment (RMD)
• Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center
• Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes that includes any identified testing
• May be required to prepare operating room case carts
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
• MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and SPS management
• Performs other duties as assigned.The employee is under the guidance of the RMD Educator - Censitrac Coordinator - and Lead MST
• These roles will guide and coordinate the daily process
• the SPS Chief and/or Assistant Chief will assign work with standing instructions on objectives - priorities - and deadlines - and provide guidance for unusually involved situations
• The employee will work as team member with other Medical Supply Technicians of various experience to carry out the daily work utilizing the written standard operating procedures and/or manufacturer's written instructions in accordance with instructions - policies - previous training - or accepted/standard practices
• Department leadership evaluates completed work for overall technical soundness and conformance to agency policies through competency assessment utilizing simulation - direct observation and verbal responses from the incumbent
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 2:00pm-10:30pm - with a rotating on-call commitment occurring approximately once every 10 weeks - plus one on-call holiday per year
• Initial orientation for this position will be 8:00am-4:30pm - M-F for approximately 4-6 weeks based on experience and progression
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 21O94