Health Technician

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience and/or Education: Experience. I possess six months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. OR Education. I have successfully completed two academic years above high school leading to an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the position. OR Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. An example of a combination of experience/education is three months of experience comparable to the next lower level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled and one year above high school with a minimum of 6 semester hours related to the health care industry English Language Proficiency: proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403 (f). 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 Determinations: GS-05: Experience and/or Education Experience- One year of experience comparable to the next lower level (GS 04) which demonstrates the knowledge, skills and abilities related to the duties of the position to be filled. OR Education- Successful completion of four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor’s degree with at least 24 semester hours in courses related to the position or a bachelor’s degree in a major field of study appropriate to the functions of the occupation. GS 06: Experience- Completion of one year of progressive experience and/or experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS 05) directly related to the position being filled. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs. (a) Knowledge of the incumbent of standardized materials and skills sufficient to perform patient care requiring experience within local policy and Joint Commission regulations that include but not limited to, Preventative and Management of Disruptive Behavior Training Courses (PMDB I, Il, III,) and actively participate 100% in the physical activity component. (b) Knowledge and skill of practical anatomy and physiology, major disease processes, and diagnosis such as various mood disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance abuse and addictions with the skills to manage therapeutic conversations, containment, and recognize withdraw symptoms. (c) Knowledge and skill on procedures and tests such as EKG machines, AED, vital sign machines, glucometer for blood sugar readings, and urine drug screen tests. (d) Knowledge of secure messaging system, phone systems, Sail metrics, and CPRS and the skill to retrieve, review, and audit data, delegate to appropriate staff, and document in CPRS/patient charts when appropriate. (e) Knowledge of administrative duties that include ROI, patient scheduling, appointments, admissions, triage with the skill to ensure patients have appropriate ROI and scanned appropriately to patient chart, skill of scheduling, ensuring appointments are correct and timely, and the skill to assist nursing with patient triage. Preferred Experience: Active Driver’s License 1 year experience in related field You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Administration and Management Customer Service Human Factors Patient Care Technical Documentation Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. VA Handbook 5005/143 PART II APPENDIX G70 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-05 to GS-06. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular reoccurring, periods of standing and walking. The duties also require occasional bending and lifting that is 45 pounds or more, reaching, carrying, pushing, stooping, stretching, and similar activities. The incumbent assists in protecting patients’ self and other team members from physical harm by hostile and/or confused patients by therapeutically applying physical restraints that may require bending and stretching. The position requires the strength and stamina to perform duties, ability to sit at a desk for long periods of time, look at a computer for long periods of time, walk and stand for 4 hours. Must be able to maintain effective audio, visual discrimination and perception needed for making observations, communicating with others, reading, and writing, and operating office equipment. Must be able to use a telephone to communicate verbally and a keyboard to communicate through written means, to review information and enter/retrieve data, to see and read characters on a computer screen.
This position serves as the Mental Health Technician that provides technical, patient care, personnel, computer, and data management support services for the Nursing Service Mental Health Unit at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS).