Summary
The incumbent provides continuous cardiac surveillance, interpretation and reporting of monitor and telemetry tracing of patients within Patient Care Services. The incumbent is expected to recognize changes in patient's condition and astute in assessing the need for intervention which may be of an emergent nature requiring immediate attention. The incumbent in this position will provide assistance to the Nursing Staff to assure coordinated and efficient delivery of patient care services.
Responsibilities
The duties of the Health Technician include, but is not limited to: Performs continuous monitoring and analysis of cardiac rate, rhythm, and patterns of conduction on telemetry patients through the use of approved telemetry monitoring system. Detects abnormal or changing rate, rhythm, or pattern of conduction directly from oscilloscopic rhythm display, from computer triggered alarms, or from EKG records on computer memory. Monitor for non-invasive blood pressure and continuous pulse oximetry (SP02) alarm events. Promptly validates/invalidates alarm conditions. Establishes and maintains morphologically suitable and noise free EKG signal. Detects need for lead changes by observing accuracy of computer diagnosis and noting clarity of EKG signal at console oscilloscope. Preserves an analyzed six second strip every 8 hours and as needed for rhythm changes. Labels rhythm strip with the patient's name, lead, PR ORS and QT intervals and rhythm interpretation. Monitor patients in lead II or MCL unless specified. Notifies appropriate personnel of minor/major/life threatening cardiac rhythm disturbance. Sets alarm limits per policy. Admit/discharge patient in computer arrhythmia system. Documents, on admission to telemetry, an analyzed baseline rhythm strip. Marks monitors with patient's location when they are temporarily taken off the monitor (i.e. medical procedures). Gives verbal reports to nursing staff regarding patient EKG rhythm. Completes hand-off communication to oncoming MT. Runs a continuous strip on telemetry patients during emergency situation. Keeps an accurate log of all cardiac arrhythmias on the notification sheet. Prints summary every 4 hours on patients recorded on notification sheet. Ensures high quality information and visual display of patient's tracing. Promptly reports interference to RN. Reports inoperable equipment to the Nurse Manager/designee and Biomedical Assists RN with all phases of patient care tasks by performing or assisting with body and oral hygiene, skin care including hair, dressing, elimination and shaving based on established procedures, vital signs, weights, intake and output, bladder scans, draw labs and obtain blood cultures collect routine urine, stool and sputum specimens, changing linen on occupied and unoccupied bed, feeding patients, recording intake for calorie counts, assists with transfer and ambulation of patients, turns and properly positions patients, assisting with incentive spirometer, cough and deep breathing exercises, applying leads and connecting to ECG monitor, performing 12 lead EKGs, post-mortem care, perform venipuncture and glucometer testing and reports to RN. Work Schedule: Monday- Sunday; 7:30 pm-8:00 am, including rotating weekends and holidays. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD84273A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/26/2026. 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: Assisting nursing staff with patient care, observing patients, and promptly reporting changes or concerns. Using basic patient care equipment and maintaining supplies and an organized care environment. Organizing assigned duties, prioritizing tasks, and working with appropriate independence within the assigned role. Communicating effectively with patients, families, nursing staff, and other members of the healthcare team. Compiles telemetry equipment, including transmitters, central monitoring station, running strips, validating and invalidating alarms, setting alarms, printers, troubleshooting. 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/. Physical Demands: This position requires considerable walking, bending, standing, lifting, and handling of equipment and supplies. Requires dexterity in performing technical procedures. Proper body mechanics will be utilized at all times. The work involves long periods of moving about the unit. The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting and repositioning patients or similar activities. The telemetry technician will be required to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 35 pounds frequently. The telemetry technician is expected to utilize provided lifting/assisting equipment for safety of the veteran and staff for all lifts/assists performed. The telemetry technician must be able to transport and transfer patients (e.g. stretcher to wheelchair, bed to stretcher, wheelchair to bed, etc.) safely. The telemetry technician will be required to handle equipment and must be knowledgeable of and able to use safe lifting techniques. The use of correct body mechanics is required. The telemetry technician should also have the ability to identify the potential for safety hazards. Work Environment. Work is performed on a patient care area where there is regular and recurring exposure to infectious and contagious diseases through frequent contact with blood and body secretions. Exposure to odors and other risks, as well as other diseases will require special health and safety precautions such as wearing protective clothing, gloves, masks or face shields. Flexibility and caution in the performance of duties is required. Due to the nature of the position, periodic testing for hepatitis is required.
Requirements
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 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 identification 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.
Education
There is no educational substitution at this grade level.