Medical Instrument Technician (GI)

The Medical Instrument Technician (GI) functions as a member of a multidisciplinary team and assists the RN in the care of patients in acute, sub‑acute, or chronic states of illness. The MIT delivers fundamental, knowledge‑based care to assigned patients while developing technical competencies. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. 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. Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS‑4 and GS‑5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions. Licensure or Certification: Licensure or 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 In addition to meeting the basic requirements stated above, the following qualification criteria must be met in determining the appropriate grade assignment of candidates. GS‑7 Experience Knowledge of endoscopic equipment and use in basic and complex endoscopic procedures. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to the GI system, with ability to recognize and report obvious abnormalities during procedures. Ability to assist physician with specialized, complex procedures. Knowledge of universal precautions and disinfection techniques and ability to follow SOPs to clean reusable medical equipment (RME). Ability to collaborate, communicate, and demonstrate customer service skills and interpersonal skills with all healthcare professionals to ensure quality and continuity of care. Ability to use basic computer systems and programs to record patient and endoscopic data, adhering to patient privacy and information security policies. Ability to deliver patient care, including vital sign measurements and medication administration. The candidate must also have at least one year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled, specifically knowledge of proper performance of endoscopic equipment and procedures. Certification No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BLS certification. Assignment This position represents the full performance level. Technicians at this level function with minimal instruction, assisting the staff with complex specialized procedures such as ERCP and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). They are proficient with GI endoscopic equipment and ensure proper performance of endoscopic equipment; select alternate equipment or adjust equipment settings to accommodate patient needs and produce high quality technique. They collect, process, and label all specimens; train other technicians in basic endoscopic procedures; work in and outside the GI unit offering technician support during emergent and on‑call endoscopic cases; and assist the nurse in patient care duties such as obtaining vital signs, dressing and documenting all pertinent information in the patient’s records. They inventory and maintain par levels of specialty equipment for the endoscopy unit. Preferred Experience 3 years of experience in Surgical Ambulatory Care/Outpatient and Care/Surgical Technician. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS‑7. Physical Requirements The population of male and female Veterans served ranges from 18 and above, to the elderly adult. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with visits to the Emergency Department and admissions for medical comorbidities. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. It also requires potentially long periods of continuous walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing a weight of 35 pounds in accordance with the Safe Patient Handling Program Directive 2010‑032. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. #J-18808-Ljbffr