The incumbent will be assigned to work in the Patient Care Service Line of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS), under the direct supervision of the nurse manager. The Healthcare Technician (HCT) is a highly specialized position, providing both clinical and clerical support such as patient care tasks, cleaning and supply duties, escorting functions, and clerical tasks. This position provides assistance to the Nursing Staff to assure coordinated and efficient patient services. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: OR 4 year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation, if required. Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. There is no educational substitution for the GS-05 level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. ["Duties of the position but not limited to: Performs or assists RN with personal care such as body and oral hygiene, dressing/undressing, and toileting/elimination ensuring patient privacy at all times. Provides direct observation for both suicidal/homicidal patients as well as those patients requiring direct observation for safety (e.g. fall or elopement risk). Answers call lights and communicates patients' needs to assigned RN or Charge Nurse. Provides bag lunches to patients only under the direction of assigned RN or provider. Assists with meal set-up and/or feeds patients as needed. Performs or assists RN with search and inventory of patient belongings. Participates in rounding as directed by RN Change linen on occupied and unoccupied bed The incumbent will be required to assist in to assist RN in patient care as directed to include but not limited to dressing changes, triage, turning and positioning of patients, enema administration, post mortem care and morgue transfers. Measures and records vital signs in Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) vital signs package and notifies assigned RN or provider, such as temperature (oral and rectal), pulse, respirations, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and pain level. Measures and empties urine output from urinary catheters and notifies RN or provider. Collects and sends routine urine, stool, and sputum specimens. Obtains nasal cultures for MRSA upon admissions, discharges and transfers Performs venipuncture, labels and sends specimens to lab. Performs glucometer checks and notifies assigned RN or provider of results. Performs 12 lead EKGs and gives to provider for review within 10 minutes. Assists with transfers and ambulation of patients Obtains and immediately delivers blood products from blood bank to assigned RN. Cleans vacated rooms of patients (i.e., strips linens, discards used or opened medical supplies, wipes down non-critical reusable medical equipment (RME) per guidelines, bedside tables and counter surfaces. Makes up clean stretchers with fully opened sheet and pillow with slip. Notifies Charge Nurse immediately if unsecured medications are found anywhere in the department. Takes note if GIP/special order supplies are running low and notifies Charge Nurse, Assistant Nurse Manager, or Nurse Manager to re-order supplies Cleans dirty reusable medical equipment and properly identifies equipment as cleaned (i.e. pink tags, plastic bag covers for IV pumps) and any medical equipment stored in the clean utility room. Maintains a clean working and uncluttered environment as directed, to include but not limited to utility room, bedside, hallways and specialty carts. Reviews for expired stocks and supplies, and restock in areas such as specialty carts, treatment rooms and clean utility rooms. Obtains and delivers supplies from SPD and main supply room as needed. Transports patients, as directed, to designated areas. The incumbent will use the appropriate method of transporting the patient for example, wheel chairs or stretchers. Delivers laboratory specimens as needed. Assists visitors with way-finding. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Rotating shifts, holidays and weekends\nPosition Description Title/PD#: Health Technician/ 00619A\nPhysical Requirements: Requires considerable walking, bending, standing, lifting, and handling of equipment and supplies. Requires dexterity in performing technical procedures. Proper body mechanics should be utilized at all times. Required to have the physical ability to manipulate patient\nwhile they are in bed to perform such tasks as weighing patients on bed scales and records necessary to maintain the CPRS vital signs packages and assisting RNs with turning and positioning of patients."]