Health Technician (Patient Care Service)

Full Job Description

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.

There is a 2 page limit to resume. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/23/2026.

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-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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.

Interchange Agreement: Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement.

For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/.

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-05) 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 https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Major Duties:

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.

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. Patient Communicaton.

Empowers patients and their families, encouraging them to acknowledge and address personal healthcare issues and embrace recommended follow up as well as self-care.

Incumbent strives to enhance the customer experience with positive human interactions and therapeutic alliances, promoting the coordination, continuity and integration of care.

Documentation and Record Keeping.

The incumbent performs administrative tasks and manages various support functions for clinic or practice such as maintaining control records for specimens and tests and documenting measurements taken.

Initiates work orders, following up to ensure the work is completed. Orders and maintains supplies for unit.

Coordinates with Medical Support Assistants to ensure patient tracking is initiated during check-in, scheduling of appointments for procedures, provider evaluations, etc., from other services.

Medical Equipment/Supplies. Works with SPS, Logistics and nursing staff to establish par levels of supplies for assigned unit and ensures supplies are readily available for patient care.

Monitors and plans equipment inventory and routine equipment maintenance. Places orders and maintains specialized supplies needed for equipment and instruments used in assigned unit.

Assists with stocking and room turnover to ensure the patient care environment is prepared to receive and care for patients. Promotion Potential: This position is at the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Full time, Night Shift, Combination of 9 and 12 hour tours. 1930-0800 or 2330-0800/ 1930-0400 and alternate weekends and holiday. Compressed/Flexible: Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Patient Care Service)/PD92902A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized