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. Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work;
OR
Education. One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing, nursing assistant, hospital corpsman, and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position;
OR
Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.
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).
- Certification. None.
- Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U. S. programs.
- English Language Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
Grade Determinations:
GS-7
Experience.
One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
OR
Education
Four academic years above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or bachelor's degree.
In addition to the one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-06), candidates must:
Demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) below:
In addition to the experience or education above,
The candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
- Ability to instruct staff on the correct procedures and protocols for completing assignments.
- Skill in communicating with staff to ensure compliance with written directives, rules and regulations.
- Skill in interpersonal relationships in dealing with employees, team leaders, and managers.
- Knowledge of sterility principles in order to instruct staff on decontamination procedures.
- Ability to lead individuals, manage priorities, and schedule work assignments. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
Assignment
The Advanced MST assembles highly complex instrument sets including, but not limited to, open heart, major orthopedic total joint, cardiovascular, craniotomy and complex endoscopic instrumentation. Processes all complex endoscopic instrumentation to include those medical devices used in the gastroenterology laboratory, bronchoscopy laboratory, urology and operating room. Reviews manufacturer guidelines to ensure the correct methods and parameters are followed when cleaning, decontaminating and sterilizing RME. Troubleshoots and analyzes mechanical failures and makes necessary adjustments to complex decontamination and sterilization equipment, as well as interprets alarm conditions which may occur while operating the equipment. Informs management and healthcare staff when cleaning and processing standard operating procedures (SOPs) or instruction for use have been changed or updated to assure the changes have been validated to meet all guidelines.
Preferred Experience:
- Experience with instrument tracking system management applications, generating reports and employee workload.
- Operation of automated endoscope reprocess or/endoscope manual cleaning and testing, Subject Matter Expert for leadership guidance.
- Knowledge of high level disinfection with chemical soak documentation and minimum effective concentration testing. Advanced experience in utilization to meet AAMI Standard 58 and 91.
- Experience with hydrogen peroxide, HLD, and sterilization machine operations and end user troubleshooting.
- Experience with conflict management and alternative dispute resolution awareness.
- Leadership and management trained.
- Demonstrated experience of SPS priority management and delegating work assignments.
- VA level 2 certification/HSPA CRCST
- HSPA CER certification
Selective Placement factor:
Commitment management knowledge.
Conflict management or alternative dispute resolution awareness knowledge.
Documented training of customer service relationships.
High Reliability Organization trained.
Effective communication course completion.
Team building trained/course completion.
Quality Ranking Factor:
Commitment management knowledge.
Conflict management or alternative dispute resolution awareness knowledge.
Documented training of customer service relationships.
High Reliability Organization trained.
Effective communication course completion.
Team building trained/course completion.
References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/83, PART II, APPENDIX G47. MEDICAL SUPPLY TECHNICIAN (STERILE PROCESSING) QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-622, Veterans Health Administration, July 8, 2015.
The full performance level of this vacancy is
GS-7. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is
GS-7.
Physical Requirements: This work is performed in various settings: decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply (preparation) and in other services and departments throughout the medical facility/campus. The incumbent may be required to work in areas that are hot, cold, drafty and poorly lighted. The employee is subject to the possibility of falls, scrapes, cuts, bruises, and other injuries from material handling equipment. The work requires standing and walking during the entire workday and frequent bending and lifting of packages (occasionally weighing as much as 50 pounds). The work requires dexterity and visual acuity for manipulating, disassembly and assembly of instrumentation. On a regular and recurring basis, the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment. The employee wears special clothing, hair covers, personal protective equipment and shoe covers that can be uncomfortably warm. The employee uses insulated gloves to remove carts from sterilizers.
The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items. The hazards of working around minute quantities of sterilizing gasses are unknown. The employee often works around body fluids, mucous, excretions and bits of tissue, some of which may be foul smelling. Strong, unpleasant odors are encountered while decontaminating bloody or grossly contaminated instrumentation or reusable medical equipment. The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments, rumbling of carts and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment.