Health Technician Direct Care

Your tasks

The purpose of the position is to assist in the care and management of patients in the acute care setting and long-term care. The position provides clinical, technical, and direct patient care support. In this capacity the incumbent must be skillful and flexible in establishing goals and setting priorities, due to the fluctuating needs of the clinical staff.

Duties include but are not limited to

• Admits and provides patient orientation to the room and unit
• Performs basic nursing skills including temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiration, and oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry, finger stick for glucose monitoring, oral suctioning, nasal swabs, and discontinuation of peripheral IV catheter
• Performs bladder scanning, records, and reports results
• Performs hourly rounding on patients with a purpose (pain, potty, positioning, proximity, pump)
• Documents patient information on flow sheets in the Electronic Health Record and/or paper flow sheets
• Notifies ICU telemetry monitoring technician when admitting patient to telemetry
• Provides telemetry monitor, identifies proper lead placement, and attaches electrodes upon admission
• Performs standard 12-lead EKG using the multi-channel EKG machine
• Understands and can identify basic rhythms and arrhythmias and provides appropriate communication to RN
• Activates Code Blue and initiates CPR when indicated
• Irrigates and dresses wounds maintaining a clean and as appropriate, sterile field
• Reinforces patient education provided by physician or RN on infection prevention and signs and symptoms of infection
• Collects patient laboratory specimens as ordered, including performing phlebotomy (if blood samples ordered), by following the facility established process(es)
• Responds appropriately and sensitively to death and dying patients, their families, and loved ones
• Feeds patients orally including those who are at risk for aspiration, after appropriate training

Requirements

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/26/2026. You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization, experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the Health Technician (OA) position

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/.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

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

Physical Requirements: The work involves periods of prolonged extensive or considerable standing/walking or sitting, lifting, positioning, pushing and/or transferring patients. The position requires lifting supplies and equipment and considerable reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, and crouching.

How to apply

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.

Other

Work Schedule: Full Time, PM Shift 3:00pm to 11:45pm OR Full-Time, Night Shift 7:15pm to 7:45am

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Health Technician Direct Care/PD06675A

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

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.