Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)
Direct Jobs, Nashville, TN, United States
Overview
The MST will utilize the processes for Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) as required by this position. The MST will utilize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for decontaminating - preparation - sterilization - and disinfection of RMD appropriate to this position. The MST will utilize an appropriate proficiency in the use of RMD appropriate to this position.
Qualifications
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.
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
Experience and/or Education: (1) Experience
Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work
OR (2) Education
One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing - nursing assistant - hospital corpsman - and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position
OR (3) Experience/Education Combination
Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
Certification
None
Grandfathering Provision
All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation
(2) MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
(3) MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
Foreign Education
To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U
S
programs
English Language Proficiency
MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - 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: GS-06 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience
One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
Working knowledge of medical terminology - anatomy and physiology - microbiology - medical conditions and procedures
Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation
Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures
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-06
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The incumbent usually stands and moves from one part of the room to another while performing duties
Is frequently required to lift packages weighing 50 pounds - and regularly pushes carts weighing up to 300 pounds for distances up to 2640 feet
Work Environment: On a regular and recurring basis - the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment
In both - the employee is required to wear special clothing - hair cover - mask/beard cover - full face shield and shoe covers - which can be uncomfortably warm
While handling contaminated medical supplies - the employee also uses decontamination gloves and an impervious gown
The area is often hot and humid
The employee is subject to slipping on wet floors
The employee must use padded gloves to remove carts from sterilizers and trays from the carts
The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items - to cuts from both sterile and contaminated instruments - knife blades and needles and dermatitis from frequent contact with cleaning agents
The employee often works around body fluids - mucus - excretions - and bits of tissue - some of which may be foul smelling
Strong - unpleasant odors are encountered while disinfecting instruments - patient care equipment - and work surfaces
The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments - rumbling of carts - and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment
Use of ultrasonic equipment may require use of hearing protection.
Duties
This position is located in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) with Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Nashville - TN
The incumbent rotates assignments among various sterilization processing - decontamination - basic and complex surgical tray assembly - and reusable inventory - medical equipment processing and quality assurance functions
The incumbent may be required to work day's evenings - nights - weekends - and/or holidays
Major Duties: Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME - some non-critical RME - in the decontamination area
Disassembles RME per manufacturers' guidelines
Determines appropriate method of decontamination based on local Standard Operating Procedures and manufacturers' written cleaning instructions
Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids - and other contaminants by wiping - soaking - rinsing - and scrubbing
Operates decontamination equipment such as washer decontaminators - sonic washers - irrigators - laparoscopic insulation tester - automatic cart wash and tube dryers
Assembles minor and complex tray sets and instrumentation packs used for a variety of general and specialized medical and surgical procedures
Assembles surgical case carts according to physician preference and computer-generated picking lists for use in operating rooms
Interprets and assesses instrumentation needs for individual cases
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The MST will utilize the processes for Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) as required by this position. The MST will utilize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) which document the processes and procedures for decontaminating - preparation - sterilization - and disinfection of RMD appropriate to this position. The MST will utilize an appropriate proficiency in the use of RMD appropriate to this position.
Qualifications
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.
United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
Experience and/or Education: (1) Experience
Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work
OR (2) Education
One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing - nursing assistant - hospital corpsman - and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position
OR (3) Experience/Education Combination
Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
Certification
None
Grandfathering Provision
All MSTs that are employed in VHA in this occupation on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees grandfathered into the GS-622 occupational series as MSTs may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation
(2) MSTs who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
(3) MSTs who are converted to title 38 hybrid status under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
Foreign Education
To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U
S
programs
English Language Proficiency
MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j - 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: GS-06 (Full Performance Level) (a) Experience
One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
(b) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities
In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings
Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination
Working knowledge of medical terminology - anatomy and physiology - microbiology - medical conditions and procedures
Knowledge of sterility principles in regards to instrumentation
Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures
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-06
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: The incumbent usually stands and moves from one part of the room to another while performing duties
Is frequently required to lift packages weighing 50 pounds - and regularly pushes carts weighing up to 300 pounds for distances up to 2640 feet
Work Environment: On a regular and recurring basis - the employee alternates between a contaminated environment and a carefully controlled clean environment
In both - the employee is required to wear special clothing - hair cover - mask/beard cover - full face shield and shoe covers - which can be uncomfortably warm
While handling contaminated medical supplies - the employee also uses decontamination gloves and an impervious gown
The area is often hot and humid
The employee is subject to slipping on wet floors
The employee must use padded gloves to remove carts from sterilizers and trays from the carts
The employee is subject to burns from accidentally touching hot items - to cuts from both sterile and contaminated instruments - knife blades and needles and dermatitis from frequent contact with cleaning agents
The employee often works around body fluids - mucus - excretions - and bits of tissue - some of which may be foul smelling
Strong - unpleasant odors are encountered while disinfecting instruments - patient care equipment - and work surfaces
The work area is noisy due to the clatter of metal instruments - rumbling of carts - and operation of pre-sterilizing equipment
Use of ultrasonic equipment may require use of hearing protection.
Duties
This position is located in the Sterile Processing Service (SPS) with Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Nashville - TN
The incumbent rotates assignments among various sterilization processing - decontamination - basic and complex surgical tray assembly - and reusable inventory - medical equipment processing and quality assurance functions
The incumbent may be required to work day's evenings - nights - weekends - and/or holidays
Major Duties: Receives contaminated critical and semi-critical RME - some non-critical RME - in the decontamination area
Disassembles RME per manufacturers' guidelines
Determines appropriate method of decontamination based on local Standard Operating Procedures and manufacturers' written cleaning instructions
Removes soil - blood - tissue fragments - body fluids - and other contaminants by wiping - soaking - rinsing - and scrubbing
Operates decontamination equipment such as washer decontaminators - sonic washers - irrigators - laparoscopic insulation tester - automatic cart wash and tube dryers
Assembles minor and complex tray sets and instrumentation packs used for a variety of general and specialized medical and surgical procedures
Assembles surgical case carts according to physician preference and computer-generated picking lists for use in operating rooms
Interprets and assesses instrumentation needs for individual cases
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