The Position is located within the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, West Haven Connecticut. Sterile Processing Service in is the central point within the Medical Center from which patient care medical/surgical supply inventory; instruments and equipment are received, processed, packaged and distributed. SPS consists of three distinct units: Decontamination; Sterile Preparation and Distributions. 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 NOTE: 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. 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). Grandfathering Provision. All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, 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: Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation. MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. MSTs who are converted to Title 38 Hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in Spoken and Written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part. Grade Determinations: GS-04 (Developmental Level) Experience: Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; OR Education: Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. GS-5 (Developmental Level) 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 a bachelor's degree. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regard to sterility. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. GS-6 (Full Performance Level) Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Working knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, medical conditions and procedures. Knowledge of sterility principles in regard to instrumentation References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G47 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-06. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-04 to GS-06 Physical Requirements: Requires standing for long periods. Requires frequent movement within work areas, regular and recurring bending, stopping, sitting, and stretching. The work requires lifting/carrying of light items. ["The incumbent will be assigned to perform all aspects of transporting and reprocessing of Reusable Medical Equipment (RME) and instrumentation within the Medical Center. Incumbent must retrieve, inspect, reprocess, and assemble a full range of equipment including but not limited to; nebulizers, pumps, venodyne boots, code carts and wound vacuums used throughout the medical center. The incumbent will also be expected to assist with transporting carts to and from Sterile Processing Service (SPS). Duties include but are not limited to: Determines correct method for cleaning and disinfection, then removes soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids, and other contaminants by wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing, and use of ultrasonic equipment and washer/disinfectors. differentiates if the items will be sterilized or will be processed using High Level Disinfection (HLD) methods based on the Spaulding Classifications of the item being reprocessed. Items determined to require HLD are reprocessed using an Automatic Endoscope Reprocessor (AER) or manual methods and approved quality controls for the process. All items reprocessed using HLD must also be properly rinsed to remove the disinfecting agent. Monitors performance of sterilizers for quality control by conducting bacteriological tests. The incumbent quarantines any implantable items during the testing period and complies with the VA Policy for Early Release of Implantable Devices by assuring that the proper, paperwork is completed and signed by the Chief of Staff or the designee before releasing those implants if the 3-hour biological monitoring process is not completed before the implants are needed. Unloads sterilized trays, sets and packs from sterilizers, during which time all items are inspected for visual changes to external chemical indicators which shows that the item or package has been exposed to the physical conditions of a sterilizing cycle. Places a stamped date and control number on each sterilized item indicating the expiration date. Incumbent stocks sterile items on shelves or delivery carts on a first-in, first-out basis for rotation. Provides training and orientation to medical personnel on sterile supply techniques and procedures. Other duties as assigned. NOTE: The incumbent is required to comply with the surgical complexity requirements by being assigned on call hours duties, which start after regular working hours, during weekdays (regular working hours are 0700 - 2330) and during any weekend/holiday hours. The incumbent may be temporarily detailed to SPS at the Newington campus if coverage is needed. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday: 11:00 PM - 7:30 AM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 689-F04269,F04268,F04267 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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