Intermediate Care Technician

The full performance, Emergency Department (ED) Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) is assigned to the Department of Veteran Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA). This position serves as an advanced technician for the ED for patients who are present for treatment.

Duties are but not limited to:

The incumbent performs ongoing patient care duties in the ED.

ICTs may perform tasks as outlined in this PD and in accordance with local policies after documented completion of training and demonstration of appropriate skills and competency.

These tasks are not all inclusive and require the demonstration of appropriate training and documented competence prior to their performance. The incumbent may assist with or perform other related approved technical health care procedures under the direction and supervision of the licensed personnel as competency is demonstrated and documented.

Patient Screening:
Duties include performing observation-based screening and collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel. This may involve obtaining patient health history for chief complaints, medication history, and information about health-related or high-risk conditions that may impact the patient's health status. The incumbent will complete approved templates and tools, for example the MiniCog screening established by the agency.

Mental Health Services:
The incumbent assists in behavioral/psychiatric situations in an emergency setting. This can include assisting licensed personnel with crisis intervention, assists with the management of aggressive or suicidal psychiatric patients, by providing one-to-one observations and applying prevention and management of disruptive behavior techniques (PMDB). The incumbent performs duties focused on communication techniques required to complete the questioners and templates approved for use in the ED, including active listening, restating, and mirroring. The incumbent will maintain a safe and therapeutic environment for the patient while promoting a sense of worth and dignity under the supervision of the licensed personnel.

Clinical Tasks:
The incumbent assists ED licensed personnel with the delivery of care to patients with complex, specialized, and potentially life-threatening situations. This may include setting up equipment and passing instruments in the event of: cardioversions, insertion of thoracostomy tubes, or initiation of mechanical ventilation to restore normal physiological function or prevent deterioration of patient's condition.

The incumbent must possess the knowledge to recognize life threatening situations and act to correct these emergent situations according to established national or local protocols. The incumbent initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BLS) and use of automatic external defibrillator (AED) once trained and certified and where appropriate according to American Heart Association (AHA) protocols and policies.

Assists with airway management using bag-valve-mask (BVM), oral airway or nasal airway. May use pulse oximetry, capnometry, capnography, and/or other secondary confirmation methods to ensure correct placement of an emergency advanced airway. Operates specialized medical equipment such as defibrillators, electrocardiographs, and oxygen apparatus in accordance with applicable training and standards. Observes patient status and keeps licensed personnel informed of any change in condition.

The incumbent provides support, relief, and coverage as needed to central station telemetry. The incumbent documents in the telemetry record and reports all observed electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in the patient's condition to the licensed staff. Incumbent performs measurements of PR, QRS, QT, RR, and QTC intervals, interprets rhythm, and prints rhythm strip every 8 hours or as required for events and informs appropriate staff. Incumbent recognizes lethal rhythms/arrhythmias (i.e. ventricular fibrillation and asystole) and immediately notifies appropriate staff. Incumbent admits, discharges, and assigns telemetry equipment to patients in central monitoring automated system.

Emergency Care:
In addition to ongoing ED duties, the incumbent may be asked to respond to medical emergencies on the facility grounds, and sometimes encounters situations which may be life threatening as part of the Rapid Response Team (RRT), Code Blue, or medical transport team. The incumbent appropriately implements emergency care in accordance with established protocols and policies. Works in concert with other members of these teams to determine the nature, extent, and seriousness of the patient's condition including the search for medical alert symbols and medications. ICTs will obtain and maintain certification in basic life support (BLS), and other certifications as pertinent to their local facility and may assist within the scope/guidelines of their role and qualifications.

Work Schedule: Compressed 7:30am to 8pm or 7:30pm to 8am
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Intermediate Care Technician/PDS0031A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/25/2026.

Intermediate Care Technician requires the Individual Occupational Requirements be met

Individual Occupational Requirement: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: monitoring vital signs, administering medication, assessing body systems, monitoring life support equipment, and implementing care plans; recognizing and responding to life threatening situations utilizing appropriate emergency treatment. Work experience in which you were responsible for a number of technical procedures, e.g., inserting intravenous catheters, performing venipunctures and arterial punctures, assisting in emergency surgery, splinting, suture removal, ear irrigations, inserting nasogastric, basic IV fluids, oxygen. Work experience which demonstrate assisting physicians with specialized monitoring, diagnostic and treatment procedures. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have one full year of graduate level education that meets the requirements for GS-07 grade level in Federal service in the subject area of medical, health or related fields. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond graduate level.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Physical Demands:
The work requires a level of physical fitness that allows for standing for extended periods, heavy lifting to position patients, and manual dexterity to perform clinical procedures. The work will require recurrent bending, lifting, stooping, standing, squatting, stretching, sitting and walking.

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/.

• 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: 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.