Medical Instrument Technician (Electrocardiograph Technician)

The Medical Instrument Technician (Electrocardiograph/Telemetry) will function under normal supervision in operating and monitoring electrocardiographic equipment for continuous telemetry rhythm evaluation and interpretation. They will monitor and interpret cardiac rhythms and identifying lethal arrhythmias 24hrs/day, and immediately notify RN/Charge RN or other Emergency Response Teams of the urgency.

7:30PM-8AM (40hrs). Alternating weekends required; weekdays fluctuate for team balance.

Allied VA Health Professional Total Rewards Package: Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf

Major duties include but are not limited to:

• The incumbent will be assigned to the progressive care unit working a rotating tour of duty. In this capacity they will observe the patients on the monitor.
• They will analyze the ECG strips document finding and report any unusual findings immediately to the RN. These measurements will be conducted according to policy and as requested.
• When not assigned to the technical duty of the monitors, the MIT will obtain vital signs as assigned, perform 12 lead EKG's, remove, and apply remote telemetry, help maintain a safe environment of care, and other duties as assigned.
• Equipment Maintenance/Repair: Tracks and maintains records of repair histories.
• Input's patient data into the telemetry monitoring system and assure patients are placed appropriately in assigned bed and on the correct monitoring equipment.
• Assists with the communication in the Progressive Unit by answering calls and making them as appropriate.
• Reports every shift to the manager or designees any patient care issues or abnormal rates and cardiac rhythms.
• Responsible for stocking and inventory of all telemetry supplies and maintaining equipment at the station.
• Document's rhythm interpretation every 8 hours and with any rhythm change
• Informs patient about exam being performed and any hazards associated with the exam, so patient understands procedure
• Recognize special patient needs such as disabilities, impaired mobility and complicating medical conditions in order to prepare and position the patient for the prescribed procedure.
• Operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing.
• Maintains and troubleshoots cardiac equipment to remain in clean working order
• Recognizes lethal rhythms/arrhythmias (including acute myocardial infarction, STEMI, NSTEMI) and immediately notifies appropriate staff

Work Schedule: Nights 7:30PM - 8AM. 40 hours weekly. Requires alternating weekend shifts; weekday schedules fluctuate to ensure balanced team coverage.
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
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 #: 13840F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Licensure or Certification: Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-7 for applicants to have Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.

Grade Determinations: GS-07 Medical Instrument Technician:

• Experience: Candidates must possess at least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the position to be filled. Qualifying experience includes but is not limited to: be responsible for understanding event and Holter monitors for ongoing patient monitoring, understand each patient's specific medical history and make adjustments to the equipment parameters and settings to accomplish best monitoring function, have basic knowledge of pharmacology and the effects on cardiac rhythm that require customized adjustments to alarm parameters and monitoring functions, train new employees, patients, technicians, and RNs, throughout the medical center on continuous telemetry, holter monitors, and 12Lead EKGs, have basic knowledge of scanning of holter monitor data, proper storage, and cleaning of the equipment. AND;
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of typical patient reactions and signs of distress including the ability to recognize, report and treat potentially lethal arrhythmias.
  • Knowledge of common equipment settings and standardized procedures plus knowledge of common errors and corrective measures.
  • Ability to modify procedures/positions to obtain the correct results with patients with complicating conditions such as amputations, Parkinson's disease, structural defects, and scar tissue.
  • Ability to act as a mentor or preceptor to lower graded technicians.
  • Ability to conduct in-service training on the EKG equipment and related instrumentation.

Preferred Experience: Previous tele-tech experience, specifically in EKG monitoring and electrocardiography.

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.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Note: There is no substitution of education for experience at this grade level.

• 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 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).
• 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 1 or 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.