Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

The full performance, Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) Generalist is assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs within Lexington, KY Nursing Operations Service, Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The incumbent performs ongoing patient care duties in an outpatient clinical setting within the Surgical clinics. ICTs may perform tasks after proper education, training and competency, demonstrating knowledge, skills and abilities. Thoroughly and continually documents actions, interventions and patient response in the health record.

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Assists licensed personnel with the delivery of care to patients with complex and specialized care needs.
• Performs treatments and interventions (i.e. Foley coude' catheter insertions, Cryotherapy, incision & drainage, and suturing).
• Performs wound care (i.e. bandaging, application of dressings, wound measurements and Photo-documentation of wounds).
• Assists with outpatient minor procedures.
• Administers Medicine such as: Intramuscular, oral, topical, eye drops, ear drops, intranasal, rectal suppositories, local anesthetics, nebulized medications, subcutaneous, and intradermal.
• Assists licensed staff with preparing patients for medical evaluation, setting up equipment, passing instruments and providing treatment during in-person or virtual visits.
• Operates specialized medical equipment to obtain diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes.
• Responsible for collecting a wide range of specimens and preparing them for transfer to process.
• Provides patient education within scope of care or while providing an intervention. (Examples: post-procedural care and wound care).
• Conducts or assists with the training of personnel in if appropriately trained, certified and/or qualified.
• Performs observation-based screening and collection of patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel.
• Completes approved templates and tools, such as normal result notes and follow up treatment protocols established by the agency.
• Performs Vital Signs and Point of Care Testing.
• Thoroughly and appropriately documents actions, interventions and procedures in the medical record. (Examples: Procedural notes, progress notes, screenings, photo documentation and secure messaging.)
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• May perform tasks as outlined in this Position Description (PD) and in accordance with local policies after documented completion of training and demonstration of appropriate skills and competency.
• These tasks are not all inclusive and require the demonstration of appropriate training and documented competence prior to their performance.
• May assist with or perform other related approved technical health care procedures under the direction and supervision of the licensed personnel as competency is demonstrated and documented.

Other duties: Conducts or assists with the training of personnel in if appropriately trained, certified and/or qualified, for example: facility formal preceptors and Telehealth Presenter (TCT) instructors. Can conduct or assist with stand-downs, community health programs, health-care screenings, and immunizations. May be members of hospital-wide committees to enhance care for Veterans.

Work Schedule: Various Tours of Duty, To be determined during interview.

Position Description Title/PD#: Intermediate Care Technician/PD99968A

Physical Requirements: The work involves extended periods of bending, standing, and walking. Generally, the work requires recurring physical exertion with assisting patients.

Work Environment: On a regular and recurring basis, employee is exposed to infection, exposure to communicable diseases and contagious diseases. The incumbent's assignment requires compliance with special safety and health precautions by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) according to universal precautions.

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
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

Individual Occupational Requirements:

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): 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.

In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirements listed above, the below qualification requirements must be meet:

GS-7 SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:

Applicants must have one (1) full year of experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-6, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience is defined as:

• Assisting medical personnel with surgical procedures.
• Communicate with the supervising physicians, licensed independent provider (LIP) and advanced practice provider (APP).
• Perform observation-based screening, collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel.
• Knowledge to recognize life threatening situations and act to correct these emergent situations according to established national or local protocols.
• Operating medical equipment like electrocardiographs, oxygen apparatuses, and defibrillators.
• Conducting specimen preparation and collection.
• Performing the necessary procedures for the preparation and transfer of specimens to the laboratory for processing, including but not limited to labeling and packaging.
• Conducting screening based on observation and gather patient information in cooperation with licensed individuals.

OR,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required specialized experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one (1) full year of graduate level education, with courses directly related to the work of the position. A copy of your transcript(s) must be submitted with your application.

Basis for Selection: Selections for positions will be based on the objective evaluation of the candidates' total qualifications for the position. "Qualifications" means the combination of experience, training, education, skills, knowledge, abilities, personal characteristics, and merit factors deemed to be pertinent to successful performance.

Physical Requirements: The work involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients. Generally, the work requires recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, and positioning of patients.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

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.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Documents Accepted:

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Documents Required:

• Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

Next steps