Health Technician - Direct Patient Care

Full Job Description

The Health Technician position performs all duties under the direction of the RN and is assigned clinical and non-clinical duties within Patient Care Services at the Wilmington VA Medical Center in Wilmington, DE.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

PLUS SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in Federal service that has required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of a Health Technician - Direct Patient Care.

Qualifying specialized experience includes a full range of direct patient care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a hospital, long-term care, or outpatient setting under the direction of an RN and/or LPN.

Examples include tube feeding, taking vital signs, performing phlebotomies, labeling specimens, catheterizations, 12 lead ECG testing, non-sterile dressings, including bathing, grooming, and toileting.

This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit.

OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE: Possess successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position.

This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college, or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite.

One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school.

Transcripts required.

OR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: Possess an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education as described above that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position.

Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. Transcripts required. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Rotation of tours of duty and/or overtime may be required.

Requires pushing, pulling, and lifting no greater than 20 pounds over 12 hours. Requires the ability to function in stressful situations.

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.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Patient Care Tasks 70% Ability to implement a full range of patient care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a hospital, long-term care, or outpatient setting under the direction of an RN and/or LPN.

Examples include tube feeding, tracheostomy care and suction, straight catheterizations, care of patients with complex medical and behavioral diagnoses, non-sterile dressings, etc.

Performs direct care, including bathing, grooming, and toileting. Demonstrates appropriate communication and interpersonal skills with patients, families, interdisciplinary team, and other personnel.

The Health Technician teaches patients and families the necessity to continue the procedures for proper health care.

Provides specific health information based on the patient's condition, e.g., acceptance of limited physical mobility, proper body mechanics, and pre- and postoperative breathing techniques, colostomy care and irrigations, etc.

Keeping family informed of patient's progress. Knowledge and ability to serve as a preceptor to new health technicians.

Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance.

For example, recognizing the need for basic life support, controlling bleeding, and assisting with behavioral crises, etc.

May perform a range of treatment procedures that include 12-lead ECG, finger sticks for glucose testing, oxygen therapy, compresses, dressing changes, applying slings, initiating CPR, application of ACE bandages, monitoring vital signs, etc.

HCT may provide treatments that require auxiliary equipment, such as oxygen and suction. They use assistive devices, such as braces and splints. Discontinue intravenous peripheral sites.

They may collect, label, and transport patient specimens ( as appropriate), including glucose testing data (GTS) and supplies, routine phlebotomy, stool for guaiac, throat culture, and sterile/non-sterile urine specimens.

Cleaning/Supply Technician Tasks 30% Maintains patient care supplies at appropriate levels in rooms and on assigned units as needed.

Complies and adheres to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for reprocessing/precleaning reusable medical equipment (RME).

Applies concepts/practices within the Holistic Approach to Transformational Change (HATCH) model. Participate in maintaining a clean, safe environment.

Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, and observes safety regulations.

They contribute to maintaining infection control by utilizing proper aseptic techniques in the performance of duties and standard precautions in the care of all patients, especially those with communicable diseases and those in isolation.

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 results is received.

Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday - Different Shifts available - 7:00AM - 7:30PM - 7:00AM - 3:30PM With evenings/night rotations - based on unit needs.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved