Veterans Health Administration
Health Technician
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Summary
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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assisting nursing staff with patient care, observing patients, and promptly reporting changes or concerns. Using basic patient care equipment and maintaining supplies and an organized care environment. Organizing assigned duties, prioritizing tasks, and working with appropriate independence within the assigned role. Communicating effectively with patients, families, nursing staff, and other members of the healthcare team. Compiles telemetry equipment, including transmitters, central monitoring station, running strips, validating and invalidating alarms, setting alarms, printers, troubleshooting. 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/. Physical Demands: This position requires considerable walking, bending, standing, lifting, and handling of equipment and supplies. Requires dexterity in performing technical procedures. Proper body mechanics will be utilized at all times. The work involves long periods of moving about the unit. The work requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, lifting and repositioning patients or similar activities. The telemetry technician will be required to lift up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 35 pounds frequently. The telemetry technician is expected to utilize provided lifting/assisting equipment for safety of the veteran and staff for all lifts/assists performed. The telemetry technician must be able to transport and transfer patients (e.g. stretcher to wheelchair, bed to stretcher, wheelchair to bed, etc.) safely. The telemetry technician will be required to handle equipment and must be knowledgeable of and able to use safe lifting techniques. The use of correct body mechanics is required. The telemetry technician should also have the ability to identify the potential for safety hazards. Work Environment. Work is performed on a patient care area where there is regular and recurring exposure to infectious and contagious diseases through frequent contact with blood and body secretions. Exposure to odors and other risks, as well as other diseases will require special health and safety precautions such as wearing protective clothing, gloves, masks or face shields. Flexibility and caution in the performance of duties is required. Due to the nature of the position, periodic testing for hepatitis is required.
Major Duties
The duties of the Health Technician include, but is not limited to: Performs continuous monitoring and analysis of cardiac rate, rhythm, and patterns of conduction on telemetry patients through the use of approved telemetry monitoring system. Detects abnormal or changing rate, rhythm, or pattern of conduction directly from oscilloscopic rhythm display, from computer triggered alarms, or from EKG records on computer memory. Monitor for non-invasive blood pressure and continuous pulse oximetry (SP02) alarm events. Promptly validates/invalidates alarm conditions. Establishes and maintains morphologically suitable and noise free EKG signal. Detects need for lead changes by observing accuracy of computer diagnosis and noting clarity of EKG signal at console oscilloscope. Preserves an analyzed six second strip every 8 hours and as needed for rhythm changes. Labels rhythm strip with the patient's name, lead, PR ORS and QT intervals and rhythm interpretation. Monitor patients in lead II or MCL unless specified. Notifies appropriate personnel of minor/major/life threatening cardiac rhythm disturbance. Sets alarm limits per policy. Admit/discharge patient in computer arrhythmia system. Documents, on admission to telemetry, an analyzed baseline rhythm strip. Marks monitors with patient's location when they are temporarily taken off the monitor (i.e. medical procedures). Gives verbal reports to nursing staff regarding patient EKG rhythm. Completes hand-off communication to oncoming MT. Runs a continuous strip on telemetry patients during emergency situation. Keeps an accurate log of all cardiac arrhythmias on the notification sheet. Prints summary every 4 hours on patients recorded on notification sheet. Ensures high quality information and visual display of patient's tracing. Promptly reports interference to RN. Reports inoperable equipment to the Nurse Manager/designee and Biomedical Assists RN with all phases of patient care tasks by performing or assisting with body and oral hygiene, skin care including hair, dressing, elimination and shaving based on established procedures, vital signs, weights, intake and output, bladder scans, draw labs and obtain blood cultures collect routine urine, stool and sputum specimens, changing linen on occupied and unoccupied bed, feeding patients, recording intake for calorie counts, assists with transfer and ambulation of patients, turns and properly positions patients, assisting with incentive spirometer, cough and deep breathing exercises, applying leads and connecting to ECG monitor, performing 12 lead EKGs, post-mortem care, perform venipuncture and glucometer testing and reports to RN. Work Schedule: Monday- Sunday; 7:30 pm-8:00 am, including rotating weekends and holidays. Subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD84273A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.
Requirements
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job 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. 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 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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.
Required Documents
To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week. SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Time in Grade and/or Eligibility): Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee An SF-50 showing your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade Award 50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted for the purpose of verifying time-in-grade. Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old. The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please make sure you have included other documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference claims, or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees). You will not be contacted for additional information. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) Other (1) Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities. Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.
How to Apply
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include the initial online questionnaire and submission of the required documentation specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. To preview the application questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13093511. The application process is as follows: To begin, click Apply Online to create a USA JOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents. Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation. Click the Submit Application button prior to 11:59 PM (ET) on the announcement closing date, 10/26/2026. If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice. Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. Set aside at least 3 hours to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link. NOTE: Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused. Visit the USA Hire Applicant Resource Center for practice assessments and assessment preparation resources at https://support-usahire.opm.gov/hc/en-us. To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed. To view the announcement status or your application status: https://help.usajobs.gov/how-to. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application. Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed. Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement. Your resume must be 5MB or less. We recommend saving and uploading your resume as a PDF to maintain formatting and number of pages. We also accept GIF, JPG, JPEG, PNG, RTF, TXT, PDF, ODT or Word (DOC or DOCX). We do not accept PDF portfolio files. We recommend using a sans-serif font size like Lato, if available. Other widely available options are Calibri, Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Open San Source Sans Pro, Roboto or Noro Sans. Make your page margins 0.5 inches. Consider using 14-point size font for titles and 10-point for the main text in your resume. The resume builder can help you create a resume using these recommendations and uses the information in your USAJOBS profile to help you get started. Helpful Hints for Creating a Two-Page Resume: Prioritize most relevant and recent experience Use concise, results focused language Align language from the job announcement Focus on demonstrating skills and competencies Remove outdated or unrelated experience Use the USAJOBS resume builder Additional guidance on this new requirement and resume building tools can be found at https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/application/documents/resume/page-limit.