Summary

The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) operates and monitors dialysis procedures for chronic patients and may assist with acute patients when needed within Nursing services at Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr. VAMC.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• 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
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: Medical Instrument Technician (Hemodialysis) - GS-8 (Full Performance): (a) 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 all of the following KSAs: (b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities 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
• c) 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 Preferred Experience: CHT OR CCHT certification and 3 years of dialysis experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) operates and monitors dialysis procedures for chronic patients and may assist with acute patients when needed
• The technician has a thorough understanding of the principles of dialysis and understands medical treatment for patients with renal failure
• The duties include but not limited to: Activate the water treatment system used to provide purified water for patients use in accordance with AAMI standards
• Assure all pressure gauges on the reverse osmosis are registering properly and the deionization are producing water in excess of one million ohms specific resistance
• Advise physicians and nurses about problems and make suggestions on how to correct the problems
• Responsible for checking the water systems for chemical contamination such as chlorine - chloramines - water hardness - pH level 1 - and bacteriological contamination
• Activate the high ultrafiltration hemodialysis machines to normalize the conductivity and temperature while preparing the equipment for patient use
• Assure that the dialysate and the limits for conductivity and temperature have been properly set
• Set up the hemodialysis machines prior to the hemodialysis treatment
• Check the pressure holding test for each individual machine
• Document on the machine log sheet after machine checks are completed
• Maintain sophisticated equipment (such as high ultrafiltration machines) their use of built-in diagnostic routines and measured performance
• Restore equipment to proper operation when malfunctions are detected
• Prepare sterilization solutions (such citric acid) at various dilutions for dialyzers - water systems and dialysis equipment
• Sterilize all dialysis equipment used in patient care according to established guidelines
• Document water treatment systems - dialysis machines - distribution lines for the acid and water recirculation system
• Work Schedule: 06:00am - 4:30m and 07:30am - 6:00pm (4 days - 10 hour rotation) Telework: Not Available Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 51070F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized