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 supply Technicians (MSTs) must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j
• Experience: Six (6) months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work
• OR, Education: One (1) year above high school that included at least six (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
• IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING GRADE REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION
• Grade Determinations: GS-03 Entry Level: This is an entry level MST position
• MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
• Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements
• 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 (6) months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting
• OR, Education: Two (2) years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation
• In addition to the experience or education above, you must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below: Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
• Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets
• Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment
• 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 reprocessor
• 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 (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04)
• OR, Education: Four (4) 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
• In addition to the experience or education above, you must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below: Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
• Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility
• 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 reprocessors
• Performs and documents daily operational checks and records for all sterilization equipment
• Experience: One (1) year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05)
• In addition to the experience or education above, you must demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
• Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
• Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures
• Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation
• Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures Certification provided after hiring VA Certified Registered Medical Supply Technician(CRMST) (Level 1 within 90 days and Level 2 within 1 year of employment)
• Preferred Experience: At least one year of Sterile Processing or surgical instrumentation experience
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-6. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation)
• endoscope reprocessing room and in other SPS services areas throughout the medical facility/campus
• The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly or
• brightly lighted
• The work requires proper body mechanics when standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending, twisting and lifting of packages / instrument trays, transport bins, (weighing as much as 50 pounds)
• Transportation of RME between buildings and clinics requires the loading and unloading of soiled, clean and sterile RME
• Requires the pushing and pulling of case carts and flatbed hand trucks weighing several hundred pounds
• The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation.