Medical Instrument Technician-Hemodialysis

Applicants pending educational/certification/licensure completion requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but can't be hired until all requirements are met

Basic Requirements:

US Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when you can't recruit qualified citizens
English Language Proficiency. Must be able to speak & write English
Education. There aren't specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education can only be substituted for experience at the GS-4 & GS-5 level. See grade requirements for information regarding educational substitutions. 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).

Titles & Certifications/Registrations: All individuals assigned to this occupation MUST have an approved parenthetical title. For individuals at the GS-4 & GS-5 levels, the approved title is Medical Instrument Technician-Trainee.

Hemodialysis Technicians operate & monitor kidney dialysis instruments to provide dialysis treatment to patients w/ kidney failure or maintain patients w/ irreversible kidney disorders. Agencies that offer national certification are Nephrology Certification Commission, NNCC, Board of Nephrology Examiners, Inc., Nursing & Technology, BONENT, National Nephrology Certification.

Training. Completion of appropriate training i.e. in-service training programs, on the job training, training acquired while in the Armed Forces, government sponsored developmental training programs, &/or training under physicians certified in the functional area are allowed on a month-for month basis through the GS-5 level.

Grade Determinations. In addition to basic requirements for employment, criteria discussed in applicable headings, or defined in appendices, must be met when determining candidates' grades.

Education/Training. Creditable education must have been attained in an accredited Community College, College or University.

Foreign Education: To be creditable, education completed outside the US must have been submitted to private organizations that specialize interpreting foreign educational credentials & such education must be found at least equivalent to US conventional programs.

Basic Developmental Levels

GS-4

Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade demonstrating KSAs & characteristics related to position duties. 6 months of experience may have been in medically related fields: nursing assistant, practical nursing, or similar fields. The other 6 months must have been operating diagnostic & therapeutic MIT equipment. Experience gained operating MIT equipment for animal diagnosis/treatment may be credited at this level. In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs

OR

Education. Successful completion of 2 years of education above high school or associate's degree w/ major field study directly related to MIT occupation

Demonstrated KSAs

1) Basic medical terminology knowledge
2) Ability to learn components, operating characteristics & equipment settings
3) Ability to learn typical patient reactions to basic procedures involved & ability to recognize distress signs
4) Ability to learn standard positions for conducted procedures
5) Ability to communicate orally & in writing

GS-5

Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade which demonstrates KSAs, & characteristics related to position duties. This should be experience operating equipment related to the MIT specialization you applied for or in related functional areas. Experience gained in operating equipment for animal diagnosis/treatment may be credited through this grade level. In addition, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs

OR

Education. Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to bachelor's degree w/ courses related to occupation or bachelor's degree in major field of study appropriate to MIT functions

Demonstrated KSAs

1) Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
2) Knowledge of common physical disabilities & ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
3) Ability to learn the normal & abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize & report obvious abnormalities
4) Ability to operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures
5) Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, & calibrate the machine

GS-6

Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade which demonstrates KSAs & characteristics related to position duties. In addition, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs

Demonstrated KSAs

1) Skill in setting up, operating & performing calibrations as required on variety of dialysis equipment
2) Skill in performing & interpreting test results, dialysate chemistries, water treatment testing for contaminates, etc. including ability to analyze deviations from expected norm & responding appropriately
3) Knowledge of American Association of Medical Instrumentation, AMMI standards & unit policies as they relate to water treatment
4) Knowledge of physiological & psychological changes & conditions related to end stage renal disease
5) Ability to calculate dialysis baths according to physician's orders per patient by mixing critical concentrates, i.e., calcium, potassium & bicarbonate
6) Knowledge of Basic Cardiac Life Support, BCLS

GS-7

Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level demonstrating KSAs & characteristics related to position duties. These experiences should have provided knowledge of equipment, standard procedures, & typical machine problems &/or patient reactions to treatment. In addition, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs

GS-7 KSAs

1) Ability to assist the physician in more complex procedures such as central venous catheter insertion
2) Ability to assist in training patients in home/self-care by teaching components of machine operation including water treatment & monitoring patients for compliance
3) Ability to act as mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians
4) Ability to analyze deviations from the expected, determine whether deviations are machine or patient related & respond according to findings

GS-8

Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level demonstrating KSAs & characteristics related to position duties. These experiences should have provided knowledge of complex procedures, pharmacology, & knowledge of related acute disorders & diseases & their effects on organs/treatment methods. In addition, candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs

GS-8 KSAs

1) Knowledge of hemodialysis process & equipment needed for home/self-care including common machine problems knowledge & equipment repairs
2) Peritoneal dialysis equipment & procedures knowledge
3) Ability to assist physician w/ percutaneous renal biopsies & peritoneal catheter insertion
4) Ability to provide instruction to dialysis patients in home re self-care & maintaining equipment
5) Ability to provide instruction to physicians, nurses & other personnel in dialysis procedures, equipment operation & maintenance etc

Preferred Experience: Hemodialysis experience preferred including Reverse Osmosis, RO water monitoring & testing,
Preferred certifications as either Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician, CCHT or Bonent- Dialysis Patient care Technician.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

This vacancy's full performance level is: GS-8. Actual grade an applicant may be selected is in the range of a GS-4 to a GS-8.

QUALIFICATIONS CONTINUED IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION SECTION OF JOB ANNOUNCEMENT