Summary The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting for a Health Technician - for the Muskegon VA Clinic. The Health Technician will function at the Northern Rural Expansion Program (NREX) locations: Hart, Ludington, Baldwin and Newaygo within Ambulatory Care Nursing Service. This position is primarily working at NREX locations performing diagnostic test/procedures such as venipuncture for collection of blood specimens. Responsibilities Major Duties include but not limited to: Preparing a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of clinic operations Completing tasks that are of a clerical and technical support to the Medical and Nursing staff Providing ongoing monitoring of vital signs, performing testing for blood glucose monitoring Arranging and passing medical instruments and materials to medical/nursing professional for a variety of tests and procedures Reinforcing education presented by a provider or RN including teaching patients and family members the necessity to continue the procedures for proper health care Stocking supplies in exam rooms, maintaining various unit logs and other related clerical duties associated with patient care and treatment Ordering and maintaining supplies for unit Transporting specimens and reusable medical equipment to specified location Providing and performing a variety of program support duties as assigned Preferred Experience: Phlebotomy 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. Work Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 6:30am to 17:00pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD93532A, PD93533A, and PD93534A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized 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 You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. Must possess current/valid/unrestricted driver's license. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/20/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. GS-5 Specialized Experience: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: receive and sort specimens, check request slips for proper information, log in specimens and deliver specimens to various laboratory sections, receives requests or instructions for procedures, prepares and assist in the preparation and cleanup of the procedure/exam rooms, maintains medical instruments and equipment for procedures, provides verbal and written instruction to patients, explains the procedure and answers patient's questions during procedures. OR, Education: Must have successfully completed of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. OR, Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: You must have a combination of specialized experience and post high school education as described above that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable, and transcripts are required at the time of application. GS-6 Specialized Experience: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: provide extensive ancillary/diagnostic support services to primary care providers such as the completion of vital signs including pain assessments, completion of clinical reminders, obtaining preliminary medical history, providing order entry for provider's signature, input of electronic progress notes at time of care, exit interview input, appointment scheduling, consultation/completion status input, arranges for hospital admission, reports tests results to clinician, provides educational instruction for patients/family. OR, Education: Must have successfully completed one-half year of graduate education (9 semester hours or equivalent), or internship directly related to the position with a major that included courses directly related to the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. OR, Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Must have an equivalent combination of successfully graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. GS-7 Specialized Experience: Must have one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform successfully the duties of this position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: preparing a variety of technical and administrative tasks in support of clinic operations, ordering and maintaining supplies for unit, transporting specimens and reusable medical equipment to specified location, stocking supplies in exam rooms, maintaining various unit logs and other related clerical duties associated with patient care and treatment, providing ongoing monitoring of vital signs, performing testing for blood glucose monitoring, arranging and passing medical instruments and materials to medical/nursing professional for a variety of tests and procedures. OR, Education: Must have successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (or 18 semester hours) or internship directly related to the position with a major that included courses directly related to the work of this position. Such graduate education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of this position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. OR, Combination of Specialized Experience and Education: Must have an equivalent combination of successfully completed one-half year of graduate education (9 semester hours or equivalent) and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total qualification requirements for this grade level. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clerical Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Communication Diagnostic Medical Testing Patient Care 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work is primary sedentary but also requires some standing, walking, moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds, and moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds. The work requires reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, both legs are required, fair vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, and hearing (aid may be permitted). 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 A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process. 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.