Direct Jobs
Summary
NOTE: THE 2-PAGE RESUME REQUIREMENT DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS OCCUPATIONAL SERIES. FOR MORE INFORMATION - REFER TO REQUIRED DOCUMENTS BELOW. This position is for the Sterile Processing Service - VA Puget Sound Health-Care System located in Seattle - WA.
Qualifications To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
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 - this part
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
Certification: None
Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U
S
programs
Grade Determinations: GS-03 (Entry Level) Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements
Assignment: This is an entry level MST position
MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
GS-04 (Developmental Level) Experience: Six 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 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
In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the 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
Assignment: 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
GS-05 (Developmental Level) 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
In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
Assignment: 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
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
GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
Assignment: 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
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 in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: This work requires moderate lifting (15-44lbs) - moderate carrying - pushing - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking - standing repeated bending - both legs required - ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
Environmental factors are working outside and inside - excessive heat - excessive cold - constant noise - slippery or uneven walking surfaces - working around machinery with moving parts - working with hands in water - and working alone.
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties listed refer to the GS-06 Full Performance Level (FPL): Removes gross contamination by soaking in appropriate Detergent Solutions - washing with a detergent blood solvent - scrubbing with a brush - rinsing in tap and then distilled water or washing in an ultrasonic unit and/or washer-sterilizer
Decontaminates all reusable supplies and equipment in a manner rendering all decontaminated items safe for handling
Determines proper methods and processes to follow per SOP's and Manufacturer's Instructions for use to decontaminate instruments and equipment
Properly disassembles Surgical Instruments avoiding damage or unnecessary wear
Uses seasoned judgment to ensure minimum potential for damage to equipment
Have responsibility involved with one - or all - the following functions pertaining to Re-Usable Medical Equipment (RME) cleaning - disinfection - sterilization and preparation of equipment to full readiness for its subsequent use
The result of these duties and responsibilities are to ensure the best possible product is delivered - the right item - at the right time - in the right condition - ready for use Attend training on either one - or all - the procedures associated with the set-up - use - reprocessing and maintenance of new equipment prior to its initial use that leads to his/her initial competency and - validation of that competency on a recurring basis
Removes items from washers and pass-through and determines type of tray or set to assemble based on recognition of key items and the operating room or clinic schedules
Examines items to ensure that gross contamination has been removed
if items remain contaminated they are sent back to Decontamination for complete reprocessing
Assembles sets and trays by selecting appropriate tray - lining it with a towel - and arranging instruments in the tray in the correct manner
Strives for a logically arranged package that will permit effective penetration of the sterilizing medium and ease of use by end user
Visually examines items for damage - deterioration - or imperfections such as rust - pitting - and cracks
Operates medical equipment to determine whether it operates correctly after re-assembly
Sends malfunctioning or damaged equipment to repair or salvage unit
Examines all types of reusable supplies and equipment
Selects correct wrapping for the tray - and wraps and labels tray
Monitors operation of sterilizer with prescribed tests
Determines appropriate method of sterilization and attaches chemical indicator tape to package
Sterilizes items referencing SOP's - Special Parameters list and or STERIS V-Pro/ETO authorized list to determine that correct parameters (e.g
time - temperature - and pressure) were obtained
Aerates gas-sterilized items for correct period and completes proper documentation
Distributes items according to established requirements - special requests or as requisitioned
Fills requests for items based on daily schedules of needs or on individual requisitions
Consults with the Operating Room staff and our clinic customers on items in short supply or out of stock - recommending possible substitutions
Rotates stock in accordance with the FIFO (First in - First out) system
Assists with inventory of supplies needed for our production as well as our end users
Performs other related duties as assigned
Oversees the work of lower-grade employees
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7am-3:30pm with weekend rotations at various intervals Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorzied 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)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience
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) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
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Qualifications To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.
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 - this part
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
Certification: None
Foreign Education: To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U
S
programs
Grade Determinations: GS-03 (Entry Level) Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements
Assignment: This is an entry level MST position
MSTs receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require frequent and direct supervision
GS-04 (Developmental Level) Experience: Six 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 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
In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the 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
Assignment: 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
GS-05 (Developmental Level) 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
In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
Assignment: 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
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
GS-06 (Full Performance Level) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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
Assignment: 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
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 in the range of GS-3 to GS-6. Physical Requirements: This work requires moderate lifting (15-44lbs) - moderate carrying - pushing - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking - standing repeated bending - both legs required - ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors
Environmental factors are working outside and inside - excessive heat - excessive cold - constant noise - slippery or uneven walking surfaces - working around machinery with moving parts - working with hands in water - and working alone.
Duties
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties listed refer to the GS-06 Full Performance Level (FPL): Removes gross contamination by soaking in appropriate Detergent Solutions - washing with a detergent blood solvent - scrubbing with a brush - rinsing in tap and then distilled water or washing in an ultrasonic unit and/or washer-sterilizer
Decontaminates all reusable supplies and equipment in a manner rendering all decontaminated items safe for handling
Determines proper methods and processes to follow per SOP's and Manufacturer's Instructions for use to decontaminate instruments and equipment
Properly disassembles Surgical Instruments avoiding damage or unnecessary wear
Uses seasoned judgment to ensure minimum potential for damage to equipment
Have responsibility involved with one - or all - the following functions pertaining to Re-Usable Medical Equipment (RME) cleaning - disinfection - sterilization and preparation of equipment to full readiness for its subsequent use
The result of these duties and responsibilities are to ensure the best possible product is delivered - the right item - at the right time - in the right condition - ready for use Attend training on either one - or all - the procedures associated with the set-up - use - reprocessing and maintenance of new equipment prior to its initial use that leads to his/her initial competency and - validation of that competency on a recurring basis
Removes items from washers and pass-through and determines type of tray or set to assemble based on recognition of key items and the operating room or clinic schedules
Examines items to ensure that gross contamination has been removed
if items remain contaminated they are sent back to Decontamination for complete reprocessing
Assembles sets and trays by selecting appropriate tray - lining it with a towel - and arranging instruments in the tray in the correct manner
Strives for a logically arranged package that will permit effective penetration of the sterilizing medium and ease of use by end user
Visually examines items for damage - deterioration - or imperfections such as rust - pitting - and cracks
Operates medical equipment to determine whether it operates correctly after re-assembly
Sends malfunctioning or damaged equipment to repair or salvage unit
Examines all types of reusable supplies and equipment
Selects correct wrapping for the tray - and wraps and labels tray
Monitors operation of sterilizer with prescribed tests
Determines appropriate method of sterilization and attaches chemical indicator tape to package
Sterilizes items referencing SOP's - Special Parameters list and or STERIS V-Pro/ETO authorized list to determine that correct parameters (e.g
time - temperature - and pressure) were obtained
Aerates gas-sterilized items for correct period and completes proper documentation
Distributes items according to established requirements - special requests or as requisitioned
Fills requests for items based on daily schedules of needs or on individual requisitions
Consults with the Operating Room staff and our clinic customers on items in short supply or out of stock - recommending possible substitutions
Rotates stock in accordance with the FIFO (First in - First out) system
Assists with inventory of supplies needed for our production as well as our end users
Performs other related duties as assigned
Oversees the work of lower-grade employees
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7am-3:30pm with weekend rotations at various intervals Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): May be authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorzied 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)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience
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) Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
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