Summary The Health Technician (Monitor Tech) positions are located in the Intensive Care Unit of the Medical VA Care Line at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The incumbents aid and assist ICU nursing staff in providing quality care for the Veteran patients. The incumbents provide 24-hour 7-day coverage performing cardiac monitoring of patients on the Unit. Responsibilities Duties include but not limited to: The Health Technician (Monitor) performs cardiac monitoring duties utilizing monitoring equipment in the Intensive Care Unit. Programs the monitor with specific parameters for the patients and investigates equipment malfunctions. They observe the cardiac rhythm of patients monitored on telemetry and of patients in the ICU. The incumbent identifies normal sinus rhythm and recognizes dysrhythmia and reports changes in the rate and/or rhythm to the RN caring for the patient. They collect rhythm strips and documents atrial and ventricular rate, PR and QRS Intervals, and regularity on each rhythm strip and placed in the patient's medical record. Edits, summarizes, and documents patient's cardiac activity every shift and gives verbal report to shift charge nurse and relief cardiac monitor tech. Instructs patients on the purpose and use of monitoring equipment. The Health Technician (Monitor) performs a range of diagnostic support duties that include labeling and transporting and/or retrieving specimens from the lab. The incumbents perform 12 lead EKGs, interpret results within their scope of practice, and bring changes to the attention of the charge nurse of physician on duty. Makes observation of patient's condition and reports changes to the appropriate staff. Assists in transferring patients. Anticipates and obtains equipment and supplies needed for monitoring/procedures to facilitate efficient services to patients. Connects patients to blood pressure monitor, oximeter, and o2. Maintains medication rooms to include performing inventory and re-ordering frequently used items, restock needles and syringes, enter medication orders into the computer system, and put away stock when received. As directed, assists in postmortem care to include disconnecting patient from monitors and other equipment, bag up and label patients' personal items, and assist in transferring patient to morgue. The incumbent maintains equipment and supplies. They check for defects and requests repair of cables, monitors, md transmitters. The incumbent replenishes supplies and restocks storage areas and bedside units. Ensures cleanliness of equipment. The incumbent participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment. Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, adheres to infection control policies, and utilized proper aseptic technique in performance of duties. The Health Technician (Monitor) participates in the Unit's Quality Improvement Program by collecting data specific to cardiac monitoring, i.e., validation of alarms, rhythm interpretations, etc. Assists with data analysis and interpretation as requested. Performs other duties as assigned. Preferred Experience: Cardiac Monitoring Work Schedule: Nights, 6A ICU. (full time six 12s one 8, every other weekend and holidays) Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician Healthcare Monitor Technician-ICU/PD24072A Physical Requirements: Requires flexibility in scheduling as a position that require 24 hours, 7 days a week coverage. Adaptability to changing demands. Duties will require long periods of sitting as well as standing, walking and lifting. The work requires regular and recurring ability to work with emotionally stressed patients in stressful situations. Use of proper body mechanics at all times to include the the transporting of patients,. The employees in this position must have a keen sense of vision and hearing. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job Subject to a background/suitability investigation Designated and/or random drug testing may be required Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-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, 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. GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Performing cardiac monitoring and other diagnostic support procedures. Interpreting EKG;s, blood pressure results, potential effects on patient and follow through processes. Use of automated systems and/or databases. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-06 level. Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required if the education or internship was directly related to the work of the position. Transcripts are required if you're using education as a substitute for specialized experience. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-06 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-06. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. 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. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. 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 well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. 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. 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.
