SHSMD Career Center

This Medical Supply Technician position is in the Nursing services at the Boston Healthcare Systems, the primary duty station is located at the West Roxbury Campus. This position is full-time at 40 Hours per week. 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. English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. 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. 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). All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. GS-04 (Developmental Level) - This is a developmental level MST position. Performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME). 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. Prepares operating room case carts. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision. Experience: Six months experience as an MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; or Education: Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: 1. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. 2. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets. 3. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. 4. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. GS-05 (Developmental Level) - This is a developmental level MST position. Removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other containments by wiping, soaking, rinsing, and scrubbing. Inspects packages for indications of proper sterilization, assembles basic sets and trays used throughout the medical center including those used in the operating room. Prepares, loads, and operates sterilizers such as steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and a high-level disinfecting scope reprocesses; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule. MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members for more complex tasks and require direct supervision on new assignments. Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; or Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a bachelor's degree. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. 2. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regard to sterility. 3. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. GS-06 (Full Performance Level) - 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 sterilization such as but not limited to steam, Sterrad, Steris, ETO, and high-level disinfecting scope reprocesses. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment. 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 regard to instrumentation.5. Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures. References: Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G47The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: The work requires constant physical effort in the receipt, reprocessing, storage and issue of RME, folding of linen items, assembling trays, pans, and case carts, inserting and retrieving loaded sterilized carts from the autoclaves. Hand and eye coordination is required in the disassembly and reassembling of equipment. The worker is exposed to long periods of standing, bending and walking while reprocessing reusable medical equipment. Frequent requirement for the lifting of RME, trays and cartons from storage shelves to carts. Incumbent regularly uses case carts in the delivery of supplies and instruments to the clinical areas within the Medical Center. Material weighs up to 50 pounds. ["Duties for GS 4-6 (developmental Level up to Full performance):The MST, SPS interprets and follows the policies and procedures of the SPS Service to perform his/her daily functions within the established guidelines and demonstrates the ability to work effectively. The incumbent is required to have a broad knowledge of; and skill in applying, a wide range of sterilization and decontamination techniques, microbiology, quality control, and distinguishing between various medical/surgical instruments. The individual is accountable of maintaining SPS standards for the practice of all services and care lines and contributes to the fulfillment of the mission of the clinical areas. Duties include but are not limited to: Participates in evaluating the decontamination, high level disinfection/sterilization process and pre-cleaning processes utilized throughout the medical center and CBOCs; Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical reusable medical Devices (RMD) in the decontamination area and may receive noncritical equipment as well. Disassembles the RMD and determines the correct cleaning method, such as, but not limited to, ultrasonic cleaners, mechanical washers/disinfectors, cart washers and chemical cleaning/decontamination agents, as determined by manufacturer instructions. Inspects, assembles and determines the correct method and packaging for sterilization, such as, but not limited to steam, low-temperature sterilization , Steris, and high-level disinfecting scope reprocesses. Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all processes and equipment. All personnel involved with the use of RMD must be familiar with which items are reprocessed locally (on unit) and/or which items are sent to Sterile Processing for reprocessing and/or sterilization. Work Schedule: Full Time- Monday- Friday 2:30pm-11:00pm. May be required to work Weekends and Holidays as needed. May be required to rotate work shifts, dependent on needs of mission. Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: May be authorized at supervisor discretion. Flexible:(Available) Hours to be discussed upon selection. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: F02635, F02638, F02639, F02605 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation incentive may be authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required NOTIFICATIONS: These positions are under NAGE Bargaining Unit Travel to all three main campuses may be required. This position is in the Excepted Service. This position is covered by a special rate. Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Due to a critical staffing shortage, 38 U.S.C. 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement."]

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