Health Technician - Acute Care

The incumbent will be assigned to work in the Nursing Service Line of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS), under the direct supervision of the nurse manager. The Healthcare Technician (HCT) is a highly specialized position, providing both clinical and clerical support such as patient care tasks, cleaning and supply duties, escorting functions, and clerical tasks. This position provides assistance to the Nursing Staff to assure coordinated and efficient patient services.

Duties include but are not limited to: Performs or assists RN with personal care such as body and oral hygiene, dressing/undressing, and toileting/elimination, etc. Provides direct observation for both suicidal/homicidal patients as well as those patients requiring direct observation for safety. Answers call lights and communicates patients' needs to assigned RN or Charge Nurse. Assists with meal set-up and/or feeds patients as needed. Performs or assists RN with search and inventory of patient belongings. Participates in rounding as directed by RN Change linen on occupied and unoccupied bed Assist RN in patient care as directed to include but not limited to dressing changes, triage, turning and positioning of patients, enema administration, post mortem care and morgue transfers. Measures and records vital signs in Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and notifies assigned RN or provider. Measures and empties urine output from urinary catheters and notifies RN or provider. Collects and sends routine urine, stool, and sputum specimens. Obtains nasal cultures for MRSA upon admissions, discharges and transfers Performs venipuncture, labels and sends specimens to lab. Performs glucometer checks and notifies assigned RN or provider of results. Performs 12 lead EKGs and gives to provider for review within 10 minutes. Assists with transfers and ambulation of patients Obtains and immediately delivers blood products from blood bank to assigned RN. Cleans vacated rooms of patients (i.e., strips linens, discards used or opened medical supplies, wipes down non-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) per guidelines, bedside tables and counter surfaces. Cleans dirty reusable medical equipment and properly identifies equipment as cleaned (i.e. pink tags, plastic bag covers for IV pumps) and any medical equipment stored in the clean utility room. Maintains a clean working and uncluttered environment. Reviews for expired stocks and supplies, and restock in areas such as specialty carts, treatment rooms and clean utility rooms. Obtains and delivers supplies from SPD and main supply room as needed. Transports patients, as directed, to designated areas. Delivers laboratory specimens as needed. Assists visitors with way-finding. Performs other related duties as assigned. 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: Rotating Tours covering 24/7. Tour of duty consists of 8 and 12 hour shifts. Includes holidays and weekends. Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician - Acute Care/PD01698A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Preferred Experience: 6 months Nursing Aid, Patient Care Technician, Healthcare Technician. 1 semester RN school.

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.