Clarification from the agency

Open to US Citizens only NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

This position is located in the Anesthesiology Service at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin. At this level, the lead anesthesia technician assists the anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetists in difficult anesthetic procedures under minimal supervision. The technician will connect and operate invasive hemodynamic monitoring equipment (e.g., arterial pressure monitors), anesthesia machines, intubation bronchoscopes and ultrasonic scanning devices. The incumbent may also assist the out of the Operating Room (OR) anesthesia providers outside of the operating room suites. They also will be responsible to mentor and train lower graded technicians on anesthesia procedures and assist the supervisor/manager with quality control and performance improvement activities. They must also operate and maintain the following machines in the critical care laboratory within the Anesthesia Service: ABL 800 and Hemochron Elite.

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• Independently sets-up and balances the pressure transducers for all hemodynamic monitoring activities performed in the operating suite.
• The lead anesthesia technician may perform clinical laboratory tests for the unit (i.e., blood gas, activated clotting time and glucose) or perform more difficult equipment repairs.
• The technician may also participate in large-vessel cannulations (with subsequent monitoring) characteristic of open-heart, transplant and major vascular surgeries.
• Independently evaluates the suitability of all retrieved specimens for analysis, requests a new specimen if the provided is unusable, processes specimens using equipment or techniques necessary to prepare them for a specific analysis and respond in a timely manner to ensure the state of the specimen is maintained.
• Prepares quality control specimens, conducts quality control procedures on equipment and reagents and maintain proper records for quality control reports.
• Provides the technical supervision for the Anesthesia Service for all inspections including CAP and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO).
• Maintains all oxygen analyzer components on the portable anesthesia machines.
• Assist nurse anesthetists, house officers and anesthesiologists with the correct use and maintenance of physiologic monitoring equipment such as: the intra-arterial blood pressure monitoring transducers, blood analyzer machinery, Swan-Ganz monitoring equipment and all new innovative medical monitoring systems.
• Must set-up all transducer monitoring equipment and calibrate the equipment using sterile technique for every procedure requiring such technology.
• Maintain and check the emergency/code box as outlined in the code box checklist. Ensure medications within the box are current for the expiration dates.
• Actively participate with Logistics to maintain a 30-day inventory level in the anesthesia. workroom as well as acting as a liaison for outside suppliers and vendors.
• Ensure block carts and ultrasound machines are stocked and expiration dates of medications within the block cart are current.
• Have current equipment manuals readily available in the anesthesia workroom for reference.
• Ensure the Malignant Hyperthermia box is stocked with the appropriate items as listed on the Malignant Hyperthermia checklist and that nothing within the box is expired.
• Updating and maintaining material data safety sheets for chemicals used within the anesthesia service and have them readily available in the anesthesia workroom.

Work Schedule: Full Time 6:00 am - 4:30 pm Tuesday - Friday, compressed tour of duty.
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade).
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience.
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #:000000

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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial 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 trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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:

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• English Language Proficiency: Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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).

In addition to the basic requirements above, the below criteria must be met when determining the grade qualifications.

GS-9 LEVEL
Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-8), which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled, and must fully meet the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities at that level. This would include specialized experience as an anesthesia technician which demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to provide all aspects of anesthesia technician services including specialized duties.

In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge and comprehensive understanding of laboratory testing procedures to include maintenance, calibration, and quality control procedures. This includes the ability to perform these lab tests accurately and correctly.
2. Advanced knowledge of electronics and anesthesia equipment with skill in repairing and maintaining this equipment and repairing complex problems.
3. *Comprehensive knowledge of central venous and pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheterization procedures including measuring cardiac outputs and intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation procedures (i.e., balloon pump).
4. Knowledge and ability to assist with airway management techniques.
5. *Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
6. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.


Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Preferred Experience: American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT), Anesthesia Technologist (A.T.), Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS), and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification are highly desired.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8.

Physical Requirements: The work requires standing or walking for a major portion of the work day. The walking will often require carrying supplies or pushing carts and equipment. Standing will require holding patients or stocking supplies. This may occupy half of the work day and will hence be considered demanding physical activity. A certain mechanical dexterity is required in the replacement of parts and the repair of equipment to restore or maintain operability after faults are identified.

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 MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. 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.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

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

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