The Medical Supply Technician (MST) Sterile Processing functions as a member of the Sterile Processing Service and provides support for all matters of concern relating to procedures for the decontamination, high-level disinfection (HLD), and/or sterilization of critical and semi-critical reusable medical instruments and equipment and storage of items reprocessed at Beckley VA Medical Center facility with management of Reusable Medical Devices (RMD) and single use (disposable) medical devices.

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.

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 Proficiency. MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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.

Grade Determinations:

GS-03: (a)Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04: (a)

Experience:

Six months experience as a MST, operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; OR (b)

Education:

Two years of education above high school that included at least 12semester hours in courses related to the occupation.

NOTE:

Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces, the U.S. Maritime Service, or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision, may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below: Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination. Basic knowledge of medical terminology in order to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets. Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. Ability to communicate both orally and in writing. GS-05: (a)

Experience:

One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level; OR (b)

Education:

Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelor's degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelor's degree. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following

KSAs:

Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings. Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility. Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment. GS-06: (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. 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).

Preferred Experience:

Experience in

Sterile Processing 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. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-06.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, lifting 10 pounds or more and pushing. Required to stand and move from one part of the room to another in performance of assigned duties and is also required to travel throughout the medical center observing the processes in placed in different services. Transferring objects may be required.