Summary

The Inpatient Health Technician is assigned to the acute care in mental health setting within Salt Lake City VA Medical Center and reports to the Nurse Manager. The incumbent serves as an advanced technician with the Acute Care Setting for patients who present for treatment in the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 07/16/2025. 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-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. For a GS-06 you must have serviced 52 weeks at the GS-05. 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. 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/. Individual Occupational Requirement: Specialized Experience: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists - speech pathologists - medical officers - and optometrists. Therefore - technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. OR - FOR GS-5 ONLY: Education and Training: Successful completion 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. Specialized Experience is required in addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: GS-5 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience includes (but is not limited to: Assists licensed staff with patient care activities - including basic interventions and procedures - under close supervision. Observes and reports physical and emotional reactions to treatments using proper medical terminology. Utilizes electronic medical record systems (e.g. - VistA or CPRS) to retrieve reports and document basic patient care. Monitors diagnostic signs (e.g. - vital signs - skin color - and consciousness) and reports abnormalities to licensed staff. Supports medication preparation and administration under supervision. Assists with basic advanced care tasks (e.g. - aseptic techniques and catheterization) and collects patient samples as directed. Provides clerical and communication support - including answering call lights and relaying requests. Demonstrates foundational computer skills and effective communication with diverse individuals. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study - or 60 semester hours - beyond the second year is equivalent to 1 year of specialized experience. GS-6 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 includes (but is not limited to): Performs advanced patient care activities - assisting licensed staff with complex interventions and procedures. Observes - interprets - and reports physical and emotional patient reactions using advanced medical terminology. Operates electronic medical record systems (e.g. - VistA or CPRS) to document and retrieve patient data. Independently monitors and evaluates diagnostic signs (e.g. - vital signs - EKG - and POC testing) and reports abnormalities. Administers medications under direction - demonstrating knowledge of techniques - dosages - and potential side effects. Executes advanced procedures (e.g. - aseptic techniques and catheterization) and collects samples with minimal supervision. Identifies and intervenes in emergencies while adhering to legal standards of care. Utilizes advanced computer skills and communicates effectively with multidisciplinary teams - patients - and families. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Conflict Management Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Interpersonal Effectiveness 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. Work Environment: On a regular and recurring basis - employee is exposed to infection and contagious diseases requiring the use of universal precautions. The incumbent may be exposed to all types of weather conditions - and face risks and discomforts at the scene of accidents - to include the possibility of noxious fumes and dangerous substances - requiring the employee to comply with special safety and health precautions and/or to use protective gear. 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/.

Duties

• Major duties may include - but are not limited to: Assist with acute care licensed staff with the delivery of complex and specialized patient care in possible life-threatening situations
• Recognize life-threating situations and act to correct emergent and urgent situations according to national/local policy and/or protocol after proper education - training and competency demonstrating knowledge skills - and abilities
• Perform patient screening by observation-based and collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel
• Documents all observations and interventions appropriately in Electronic Health Record
• Notifies licensed personnel of any observations outside of normal
• Assist and support behavioral/psychiatric situations in the emergency setting include assisting licensed personnel with crisis intervention and with the management of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients - by providing one-to-one observations and applying prevention and management of disruptive behavior techniques (PMDB)
• Use communication techniques required to complete the questioners and templates approved for use in the ED - including active listening - restating - and mirroring
• Maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for the patient while promoting a sense of worth and dignity under the supervision of the licensed personnel and maintains records
• All other assigned duties
• Preferred Qualifications: 1-2 years of experience in psychiatric care or a related field
• 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: Full Time
• Rotating Tour
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD14064A and PD14063A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required