Med Inst Tech (Hemodial)

The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Medical Instrument Technician (MIT) for the Hemodialysis unit in Bronx, NY.

VHA Dialysis facilities are required to align with the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) conditions for coverage established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS ESRD Conditions for Coverage require that dialysis facility patient care technicians meet all applicable state requirements for education, training, credentialing, competency, standards of practice, certification and licensure; have a high school diploma or equivalency; have completed a training program approved by the medical director and governing body.

The Medical Instrument Technician is responsible for the operation of hemodialysis equipment in the treatment of patients with renal failure, monitoring patients during dialysis treatments, cleaning and maintenance of dialysis equipment. The Medical Instrument Technician monitors the quality of the water used for dialysis including collecting, recording and reporting water culture results. The MIT is also responsible for setting up, selecting, ordering, stocking, and preparing supplies needed for dialysis procedures.

The Medical Instrument Technician's duties include, but are not limited to:

• Under the collaborative supervision of a registered nursing team, or charge nurse, provides hemodialysis treatment to patients with renal failure. Initiates and terminates dialysis treatments following standard procedures.
• Monitors patients throughout treatment and makes necessary adjustments without consultation according to the patient's medical condition.
• Monitors dialysis treatment parameters such as vital signs and weight loss. Collects and records vital signs using blood pressure cuff stethoscopes and
• scales and thermometers. Records patient condition and changes for example, blood pressure changes and excess fluid and determines proper treatment procedure, technique and machine adjustments.
• Assembles all necessary supplies and equipment at chair side.
• Selects appropriate instruments and techniques and troubleshoots complex equipment.
• Inspects and evaluates circulatory access site. Cleans and dresses site using sterile technique.
• Connects patients to the dialyzer and operates equipment to initiate extracorporeal circulation and performance of dialysis. Prepares and dismantles extracorporeal blood circuits and the dialysis machine to create a sterile, air free blood circuit.
• Operates and monitors dialysis machines and performance of dialysis procedures using prescribed standard procedures and the machine monitoring system. Establishes amount of fluid to be removed and sets the machine pressure according to the coefficient of ultrafiltration of the dialyzer.
• Obtain blood specimens for routine or special tests. Collects laboratory specimens from patients and prepares samples for transport to the laboratory or for shipment.
• Documents and charts accurately on flow sheets and electronic medical record. Assesses and records the results of dialysis treatment.
• Recognizes medical complications or altered response to treatment and notifies registered nurse and or provider.
• Administers saline or other solutions intravenously into the dialysis line when appropriate and according to established unit protocols.
• Adjust hemoglobin detector sensitivity during dialysis response to equipment alarms including making adjustments to correct the cause of malfunctions.
• Observes for and or test for blood leaks.
• Recognizes when emergency measures are necessary and instills life saving measures until medical system is secured. Initiates our assistant cardio­pulmonary resuscitation and other emergency procedures using an ambulance bag, cardiac monitor, and oxygen equipment
• Repairs or modifies chemical preparation for the concentrates or special chemical baths to produce specific treatments for patients with varying needs or values using different measures such as devices, chemicals and mixes or mixers. Assist patient with non-nursing requests.

Work Schedule: Full-time, rotating 10-hour shifts 7:00am-5:30pm/6:00am-4:30pm
Compressed/Flexible: Available
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
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.
• English Language: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
• 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).

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 GS-8 Medical Instrument Technician (Hemodialysis):
Experience. 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 positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided knowledge of the more complex procedures, the pharmacology related to this occupation, and knowledge of related acute disorders and diseases and their effects on organs and methods of treatment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 1. Knowledge of the hemodialysis process and equipment needed for home/self care including knowledge of common machine problems and repairs to such equipment. 2. Knowledge of the equipment and procedures for peritoneal dialysis. 3. Ability to assist the physician with percutaneous renal biopsies and peritoneal catheter insertion.4. Ability to provide instruction to dialysis patients in home/self care and in the maintenance of the equipment. 5. Ability to provide instruction for physicians, nurses, and other personnel in dialysis procedures, equipment operation and maintenance, etc.

Certification. Certification as Hemodialysis Technician under a State certification program or national certification program. Certification must be successfully maintained within 18 months:

• Certified hemodialysis Technologist/Technician (CHT)-Bonet
• Certified Clinical Hemodialysis Technician (CCHT)-Nephrology Nursing Certification Commission (NNCC)
• CCHT-Advanced (NNCC)

Assignment. This represents the full performance level. At this level the hemodialysis technician serves as a member of a dialysis team performing dialysis on acutely ill patients including those within an intensive care setting. Assignments involve performing both peritoneal and hemodialysis procedures. The dialysis technician may participate in percutaneous renal biopsies, watching the patient during the procedure and properly processing the specimen. Assists the physician in peritoneal catheter insertions and observes the patient for vital signs and provides post operative care. Provides instruction and monitors patients for home dialysis. Performs training of physicians, nurses, and technicians on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis techniques.

Preferred Experience: Hemodialysis machines, dialysis access care/cannulation, treatment initiation and termination, vital sign monitoring, dialysis water treatment systems, disinfection procedures, infection control, quality standards, and water culture testing.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

This vacancy is for the position at its full performance level.

Physical Requirements: As outlined in VA 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 examination.
• 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.