Summary Provides clinical and administrative support in an inpatient acute care environment, performing a range of technical duties to support patient treatment. Responsibilities include obtaining vital signs, conducting diagnostic tests, collecting specimens, assisting with procedures, monitoring patient conditions, documenting care, maintaining equipment, and supporting unit operations. Works closely with the interdisciplinary team to ensure safe, timely, and effective patient care. Responsibilities As a Healthcare Technician (HCT), you will provide clinical and administrative support in a wide variety of patient care and related activities in the 4B unit. The incumbent must possess the personal qualities, desire and attitude necessary to adapt to rapidly changing demands on time and workload and have the necessary skills to perform specific tasks/tests/procedures to meet patient healthcare needs. The HCT responsibilities will include, but is not limited to, obtaining and documenting patients' vital signs, performing EKGs, and inserting/discontinuing IV's. In addition, the HCT will be responsible for drawing blood and initiating the collection and submission of labs and other specimens as ordered by the physician. The HCT will move, lift, transfer, and transport patients as needed, and will be responsible for observing changes in patient condition and reporting signs and symptoms in such cases to a nurse. The HCT will assist physicians with specialized exams/procedures in preparing patients for procedure, handing instruments to the physician, providing emotional support to the patients, and cleaning equipment and rooms between procedures using proper infection control techniques. The HCT will report and/or document in the patients' electronic medical record observations of and treatment given to patients to ensure accurate records and quality of care. In the event of disturbed patient behavior, the HCT will assist in producing a safe resolution of the disturbance without undo injury to patients or staff, and will attend patients' needs such as "sitter," 1:1 observation, and/or close observation as indicated. The HCT will assist with answering call lights, comfort measures, and provision of fluids/food to patients as needed. The HCT will assist in maintaining tracking of equipment, supplies, and other duties as assigned by the Nurse Manager. Specific tasks include, but are not limited to: Obtain, measure, and document patient vital signs; recognize and report abnormalities Prepare patients for and perform 12-lead ECGs; provide privacy and emotional support Monitor ECG signal quality and correct lead or signal issues Store, transmit, retrieve, and print ECG data using EMR and MUSE Clean, calibrate, troubleshoot, and maintain ECG and clinical equipment Collect lab specimens including venipuncture, arterial puncture, and finger-stick glucose testing Insert angiocaths; perform Foley catheter procedures; document results Move, lift, transfer, ambulate, and transport patients safely Observe patient condition; recognize emergencies; report promptly; initiate CPR per AHA standards Assist physicians and licensed providers during exams and procedures Apply infection control practices and disinfect equipment and patient care areas Verbally report and document patient observations, care provided, and treatments Provide direct patient support; answer call lights; comfort measures; nutrition/fluids; close observation for SI/HI or disturbed patients Contribute to interdisciplinary treatment and discharge planning by educating patients and families; document education Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts, Including Nights/Weekends/Holidays Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD671-3465-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-35 pounds; Light lifting, under 15 pounds; Moderate carrying, 15-35 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Straight pulling, 1 hour; Pushing, 1-3 hours; Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands required; Walking, 4 hours; Standing 2-7 hours; Kneeling, 2 hours; Repeated bending, 2 hours; Climbing; Use of legs and arms; Both legs required; Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; Visual acuity: 20/40 DVA, corrected; Ability to distinguish basic colors; Hearing aid (permitted); Sitting, 8 hours; Simple grasping, 2-4 hours; Fine manipulation, including keyboarding, 4-6 hours; Twisting, 2 hours; Mental and emotional stability. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/13/2026. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: obtaining and documenting vital signs; preparing patients for exams and diagnostic procedures such as electrocardiograms (ECGs); collecting laboratory specimens and performing venipuncture, arterial puncture, and blood glucose testing; inserting angiocaths and urinary catheters; assisting providers with procedures; maintaining and troubleshooting medical equipment; observing and reporting changes in patient condition; initiating emergency response procedures including cardiopulmonary resuscitation; adhering to infection control standards; documenting care in the medical record; safely transporting and assisting patients with mobility; communicating with patients and interdisciplinary staff; safeguarding patient information; maintaining supplies and equipment; and performing administrative support duties to facilitate inpatient care operations. Preferred Experience: Vital sign measurement Blood glucose check EMR documentation Patient transport Phlebotomy and specimen collections IV starts For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. 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 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. Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Receiving Service Credit for 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. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.
