Medical Instrument Technician (EKG)

Summary The MIT (EKG) Telemetry Monitor Technician is responsible for continuous cardiac monitoring of patients using telemetry systems. Duties include real-time observation and interpretation of cardiac rhythms, prompt identification and escalation of arrhythmias, maintenance and troubleshooting of telemetry equipment, accurate documentation of cardiac events, and collaboration with clinical staff to support patient safety. Learn more about this agency Duties The incumbent independently performs the full range of electrocardiograph procedures and utilizes the MUSE storage system. Demonstrates experience which provided knowledge of the equipment, standard tests and procedures. Receives request and/or consults for procedures, interprets request from physician for appropriateness of requested procedure for patient's ability perform prescribed test. Interprets and documents a new cardiac rhythm strip posts any procedure or testing after patient was off telemetry during procedure. Receives assignments that require application of standard procedures or that have special procedures identified and explained. Reports all changes in heart rate/rhythm to appropriate nursing staff, via verbal or phone communications Experienced in applying, operating and instructing in Stress test equipment; collection of data, revising reports and completing reports for physician review. Responsible for recording when telemetry is removed and when it is reapplied. Performs duties with full understanding of related age specific factors Reports and receives shift report, both verbally and on written report sheet Ensures work area and equipment is clean. Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 0730 - 2000 or 1930 - 0800. Days are variable and may include weekends. Compressed/Flexible: Available Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Telework: Not Available Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 0000Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year). Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement Requirements Conditions of employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: Your performance and conduct; The needs and interests of the agency; Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications 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. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a. Education: Education can only be substituted for experience only at the GS-5 level. 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). Licensure or Certification: 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. Grade Determinations: GS-6 - Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) 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. Examples of specialized experience include: Ability to continuously monitor cardiac telemetry systems and accurately recognize and interpret basic cardiac rhythms and arrhythmias. Knowledge of telemetry monitoring equipment, including bedside monitors and central monitoring stations, and the ability to troubleshoot common technical issues. Ability to identify and promptly respond to cardiac rhythm changes, including life-threatening arrhythmias, and initiate appropriate notification or escalation procedures. Knowledge of patient safety practices, including proper electrode placement, skin preparation, and infection control procedures in accordance with CDC guidelines. Ability to maintain accurate and timely documentation of cardiac rhythms, events, and interventions in patient records or monitoring systems. Ability to communicate effectively with nursing staff and providers regarding changes in patient cardiac status. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to recognize special patient needs such as disabilities, impaired mobility, and complicating medical conditions in order to prepare and position the patient for the prescribed procedure. 2. Knowledge of the specialized equipment and accessories appropriate to Holter monitoring and ability to perform such tests. 3. Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment. 4. Ability to monitor the patient for adverse reactions and take appropriate action. 5. Ability to operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing. Grade Determinations: GS-7 - Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) 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. Examples of specialized experience include: Independently monitoring multiple patients on telemetry systems and prioritizing alarms based on clinical urgency. Advanced knowledge of cardiac rhythms, including the ability to recognize complex and potentially lethal arrhythmias (e.g., ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, heart blocks) and initiate immediate notification protocols. Ability to analyze rhythm strips for accuracy and ensure proper lead placement and signal quality. Skill in troubleshooting telemetry equipment, minimizing artifact, and ensuring continuous monitoring integrity. Ability to educate and support clinical staff on telemetry monitoring practices, equipment use, and rhythm interpretation. Ability to serve as a preceptor or mentor to lower-graded technicians and assist with on-the-job training. Ability to participate in or conduct in-service training related to telemetry systems, cardiac monitoring, and patient safety. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize, report and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias. Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures. Ability to modify procedures/positions to obtain the correct results with patients with complicating conditions such as amputations, Parkinson's disease, structural defects, and scar tissue. Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians. Ability to conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation. Preferred Experience: Cardiac telemetry monitoring and ECG interpretation (arrhythmias, rate/rhythm changes) Skilled with EKG/telemetry equipment setup, troubleshooting, and patient-specific adjustments Acute care/med-surg experience, including high-volume centralized telemetry monitoring Formal ECG/arrhythmia training with competency validation Experience training or mentoring staff on telemetry practices Recognizes emergencies and communicates quickly; participates in code responses Proficient in clinical documentation and telemetry data management Performs 12-lead EKGs and ambulatory monitoring (Holter, etc.) Support: Reliable in fast-paced, 24/7 environments with flexible scheduling 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. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is 7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 6 to 7. Physical Requirements:This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, pushing, and reaching over head. The incumbent must be able to stand and move for extended periods of time. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. Expand Hide  additional information Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Benefits A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits. Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.