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.
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).
- Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education and licensure/certification/registration that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:
- (a) Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level, or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions.
- (b) Employees in an occupation requiring a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher-grade levels.
- (c) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation.
Grade Determinations:
Grade Requirement GS-06 Level: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-5 grade level in the Gastroenterology field.
Qualifying GS-05 grade level experience includes, but is not limited to: Assist the practitioner in endoscopic procedures, such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), colonoscopy, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic ultrasound. Understand basic medical terminology as well as common gastrointestinal anatomy. Position patients for procedure. Operate the equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures. Perform standard operator maintenance on the endoscopic equipment including the ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble, and calibrate the machine. Log procedure and reprocess data, adhering to patient privacy and information security policy. Operate equipment related to the Gastroenterology specialization or in related functional areas. Experience gained in the operation of equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level.
AND; Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- 1. Ability to set up endoscopy equipment, ensuring endoscopes and ancillary equipment functions properly.
- 2. Ability to aid the physician with standard and routine procedures such as colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
- 3. Knowledge of medical terminology and human anatomy in order to assist practitioner with routine standardized gastroenterology procedures.
- 4. Ability to interact with patients explaining procedures and positioning the patient for the procedure, recognizing disabilities or impaired mobility and assisting the patient as necessary.
- 5. Ability to reprocess and maintain specialty critical reusable medical equipment (RME), following approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and universal precautions.
- 6. Ability to use basic computer systems and programs to record patient and endoscopic data, adhering to patient privacy and information security policies.
- 7. Ability to manually clean and disinfect non-critical reusable equipment and surfaces, dispose of one- time-use equipment and trash per facility policy, and restock supplies such as linens, suction equipment, and cleaning products.
Grade Requirement GS-07 Level: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-6 grade level in the Gastroenterology field.
Qualifying GS-06 grade level experience includes, but is not limited to: set up endoscopy equipment, ensuring endoscopes and ancillary equipment functions properly, aid the physician with standard and routine procedures such as colonoscopy and esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), assist practitioner with routine standardized gastroenterology procedures, reprocess and maintain specialty critical reusable medical equipment (RME), following approved Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and universal precautions, use basic computer systems and programs to record patient and endoscopic data, adhering to patient privacy and information security policies, manually clean and disinfect non-critical reusable equipment and surfaces, dispose of one- time-use equipment and trash per facility policy, and restock supplies such as linens, suction equipment, and cleaning products.
AND; Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
- 1. Knowledge of endoscopic equipment and use in basic and complex endoscopic procedures.
- 2. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology related to the GI system, with ability to recognize and report obvious abnormalities during procedures.
- 3. Ability to assist physician with specialized, complex procedures.
- 4. Knowledge of universal precautions and disinfection techniques and ability to follow SOP's to clean reusable medical equipment (RME).
- 5. Ability to collaborate, communicate, and demonstrate customer service skills and interpersonal skills with all healthcare professionals to ensure quality and continuity of care.
- 6. Ability to use basic computer systems and programs to record patient and endoscopic data, adhering to patient privacy and information security policies.
- 7. Ability to deliver patient care, including vital sign measurements and medication administration.
Preferred Experience: No certification is required; however, it is desirable that employees at this level have Basic Life Support (BLS) certification and certification from the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (SGNA) for level one and level two training or GI endoscope reprocessing certification through the Certification Board of Sterile Processing and Distribution (CBSPD).
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-07. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-06 to GS-07.
Physical Requirements: Work is sedentary but also demands standing, walking, bending, twisting, and carrying light items.
Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.