Summary This position is located at the Orlando VA Healthcare System. The Gastroenterology (GI) Technician performs in a mutually supportive role and is responsible for the technical management of the endoscopy suites. GI Technicians assist the practitioner in endoscopic procedures, such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGO), colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasound. The technicians ensure proper set up and performance of equipment. Responsibilities The duties and functions of the Medical Instrument Technician (GI) include but are not limited to the following: Demonstrates advanced knowledge of complex and non-standard treatment and examination procedures and techniques. Demonstrates the ability to plan and assist in the establishment of completely integrated treatment and examination programs. Demonstrates ability to provide briefings and orientations, staff development and training to hospital staff including physicians. Assist with training and mentoring other technicians, nurses, nursing students, medical students, residents, and fellows. Knowledgeable of professional, legal, and ethical standards inherent to patient safety and rights. Gathers relevant information to ensure patient safety during diagnostic and interventional procedures. Demonstrates ability to research and test new methods, which are adaptable for patients on special research drugs. Prepares written procedures and instructions for use of new equipment and for adapting this equipment to individual case requirements. Performs diagnostic studies including assisting or performing approved clinical research procedures. Responsible for coordinating research projects within their area of expertise. Demonstrates the ability to recognize the effects related to age specific factors, assisting special needs patients, ensuring those with physical or mental limitations are given the necessary physical or non-medicinal interventional support measures. Demonstrates the skill to scrub, circulate, monitor and operate equipment on the most complex and non-standard treatment procedures for patients with multiple morbidities/critical illness. Independently positions patients, equipment, associated devices, and manipulates technical factors to achieve high quality results. Monitors the progression of procedures requiring independent judgement and anticipate need to provide specific instrument and/or equipment. Demonstrates ability to assess processed image media for technical quality, and patient identification, ensuring that all relative anatomy is demonstrated. Ensures medications are properly labeled and available for physician administration. Demonstrates functional knowledge of the medications used, appropriate doses and side effects. Demonstrates the ability to obtain a brief history from the Veteran and provide explanation of the procedure in understandable terms for the patient. Recognizes and documents changes in Veteran's condition, reporting changes to the RN and/or Provider. Demonstrates the ability to recognize the need for initiating emergency measures when indicated and assist in response procedures for cardiac/pulmonary arrest, anaphylaxis, fire, disruptive behavior, bomb threat, external disaster, patient missing, and hazardous spills. Promptly seeks the assistance of the RN or Provider. Performs work in a safe manner providing a safe environment for patients, self and other staff. (i.e., universal precautions, isolation procedures, and body mechanics). Recognizes, reports potentially hazardous practices and environmental conditions. Responsible for tracking all procedure specific supplies, maintaining equipment ensuring operability by performing routine, minor and/or emergency repairs and arranging for additional repairs if necessary, informing Biomedical Services of an electrically hazardous situation, reporting any loss of equipment. Demonstrates respect for the individual Veteran, protecting Veteran rights, privacy, confidentiality, dignity in all aspects of care delivery. Maintains sensitivity in adhering to population-specific guidelines in the provision of care. Demonstrates support of individual Veteran choices, control, preferred routines in all aspects of care/daily living. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 7:30am - 4:00pm (On-call duty is required after hours, on weekends, and holidays, rotating with one Saturday each month as a regular workday.) Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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) Functional Statement #: 81919F 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 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 Citizenship. Must be a United States Citizen. English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA policy. Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Grandfathering Provision. 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). GRADE REQUIREMENTS Experience. At least 1 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. This would be experience which provided knowledge of proper performance of endoscopic equipment and procedures. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition to the 1 year specialized experience, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 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 SOP's 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 Preferred Experience. GI and Endoscopy experience Preferred Certifications Basic or Advanced Cardiac Life Support certification (BLS/ACLS) GI Technical Specialist (GTS) certification by the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) for level one and level two training and/or GI endoscope reprocessing certification through the Certification Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD) 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-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-7. Physical Requirements. This position requires visual acuity, ability to distinguish basic colors, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and above average manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, kneeling, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing moderately heavy objects, reaching and stretching to set up and take apart equipment. Lifting, positioning and transferring patients and objects of 45 pounds and over may be required. The incumbent may have regular and recurring exposure to infectious and contagious diseases. contaminated materials, odors and other risks which require special health and safety recautions such as wearing protective clothing such as gloves, masks, or lead aprons. This position is evaluated as category Level I in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); position requires the performance of tasks that are exposed to blood and potentially infectious body fluid. The incumbent may occasionlly 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 and able to shift priorities based on patient needs. 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 or 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.
