Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography)

The incumbent serves primarily as a Registered Polysomnographic Technologist (RPSGT.) for the Pulmonary Critical Care Sleep Service (PCCSS) Health Center located at the Lt. Col. Luke J. Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN. The Sleep Technologist works under the direct supervision of the PCCSS Sleep Health Center Supervisor and the general supervision of the Sleep Medical Director providing comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders.

The Sleep Technologist works under the direct supervision of the Pulmonary Critical Care Sleep Service (PCCSS) Sleep Health Center Supervisor and the general supervision of the Sleep Medical Director providing comprehensive evaluation and treatment of sleep disorders. The incumbent duties include but not limited to:

• Perform Sleep Clinic duties according to PCCSS Sleep Health Center policies and procedure protocols.
• Perform and complete PSG/HSAT/MSLT/MWT studies according to PCCSS policy and procedure protocols.
• Accurately scores studies and assigns to correct reading physician/fellow.
• Downloads PAP therapy equipment via Cloud based programs for compliance and assesses the need for changes to PAP Therapy.
• Adjusts pressure on devices based on the compliance download and make adjustments according to protocols.
• Changes interfaces as needed for patient comfort and compliance in accordance with protocols.
• Assesses the respiratory/sleep status of patients using data acquired through physical observation and PAP compliance downloads to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered.
• Evaluates progress of patients, observes, and assesses any deviation from the expected.
• Collaborates with providers to modify written orders as indicated.
• Makes recommended changes to patient's therapy, i.e., pressure changes, mask changes, and changes to other comfort related PAP therapy settings.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Work Schedule: Monday-Thursday 8:30PM- 6:30AM and Friday- Sunday 6:00PM - 8:00AM
Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
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 #: 50781-F
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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.
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels.
• Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however, it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, this part.

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).

Grade Determinations: Medical Instrument Technician (Polysomnography) - GS-8

(a) Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level (GS-7), which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided a knowledge of the more complex procedures as well as knowledge of the uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

(b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Advanced knowledge or the International Classification of Sleep Disorders and the ability to recognize uncommon and/or rare sleep disorders.
2. Ability to summarize and report polysomnographic data in narrative form.
3. Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) and ability to take appropriate action.
4. Ability to provide briefings and orientation to hospital staff including physicians.

(c) Certification. No certification or registration is required. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.

Preferred Experience: BRPT credential RPSGT and valid Tennessee Polysomnography Licensure. Able to independently set up and monitor two patients, as well as score records prior to the end of the shift. Experience with Alice 6 preferred.

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-8.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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.
• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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.