Intermediate Care Technician

About the role

This Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) position is located in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within the Department of Veteran Affairs - Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

Responsibilities

• Recognizing life threatening situations and act to correct these emergent situations according to established national or local protocols.
• Understanding the legal/ethical considerations of critical care (e.g. - actual/implied consent - patient rights - advanced directives - etc).
• Taking and recording diagnostic signs to perform patient evaluations and screenings.
• Assisting in behavioral/psychiatric situations.
• Assisting licensed personnel with complex - specialized - and potentially-life threatening situations.
• Performing ongoing patient care duties in a critical care setting under the delegated authority of the supervising physician - licensed independent provider (LIP) - and/or advanced practice provider (APP) assigned.
• Communicating effectively with their supervising physicians - licensed independent provider (LIP) - and advanced practice provider (APP) to provide collaborative - timely and appropriate patient care.
• Performing observation-based screening and collecting patient information in collaboration with licensed personnel.
• Assisting in behavioral/psychiatric situations in a clinical care setting.
• Assisting critical care licensed personnel with the delivery of care to patients with complex - specialized - and potentially life-threatening situations.
• Operating specialized medical equipment.
• Providing support - relief - and coverage as needed to central telemetry station.
• Responding to medical emergencies on the facility grounds - and sometimes encounters situations which may be life threatening as part of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) - Code Blue - or medical transport team.
• Performing specimen collection.
• Responding to medical emergencies on the facility grounds - and sometimes encounters situations which may be life threatening as part of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) - Code Blue - or medical transport team.
• Performing other duties as assigned within the training and competencies of the role.

Qualifications

• To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 07/20/2026.
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• To qualify at the GS-7 level - applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:
• Specialized Experience: Recognizing life threatening situations and act to correct these emergent situations according to established national or local protocols; understanding the legal/ethical considerations of critical care (e.g. - actual/implied consent - patient rights - advanced directives - etc); taking and recording diagnostic signs to perform patient evaluations and screenings; assisting in behavioral/psychiatric situations; and assisting licensed personnel with complex - specialized - and potentially-life threatening situations.
• Education: Successfully completed one (1) year of graduate education or internship directly related to the position at the next lower grade level.
• Combination: An equivalent combination of creditable specialized experience and education as described above to meet the total experience requirements for the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the military as a Hospital Corpsman - Combat Medic - Medical Technician is highly desired.
• Examples of military occupational specialties highly desired - include but are not limited to: 4NOX- Basic Medical Technician - 4NOIC- Independent Duty Medical Technician - X4NO- Aeromedical Evacuation Technician - 1T2X1- Pararescueman - 68W- Combat Medic Specialist - 18D- Army Special Forces (Medic) - 68WW1- Special Operations Flight Medic - HM0000- Basic Hospital Corpsman - HM8404- Field Medical Service Technician - HM8425- Surface Force Independent Duty Corpsman - HM8402- Submarine Force Independent Duty Corpsman - HM8401- Search and Rescue Medical Technician - HM8403- Fleet Marine Force Reconnaissance Independent Duty Corpsman - HM8406- Aerospace Medical Technician - and HS- Basic Health Services Technician.

Physical Demands

• The work involves extended periods of heavy moving and lifting of patients.
• Generally - the work requires recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - and positioning of patients.
• Must be able to lift and/or move heavy objects over 45 pounds.
• Must be able to carry objects over 40 pounds for distances of at least 200 feet.
• The work involves regular and recurring exposure to infection and contagious disease - known as Category I classification - based on exposure risk.
• Specific gloves - gowns - or masks are required as safety precautions.
• Observes - corrects - and reports safety hazards to the licensed staff.
• As part of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) or Code Blue team the incumbent may be exposed to all types of weather conditions - and face risks and discomforts at the scene of accidents - to include the possibility of noxious fumes and dangerous substances - requiring the employee to comply with special safety and health precautions and/or to use protective gear.

Benefits

• At the Iowa City VA Health Care System - we're more than a hospital-we're a hub for innovation - education - and compassionate care.
• We set the standard for quality and workplace culture.
• Strong academic affiliations with leading institutions like the University of Iowa make us a premier teaching hospital - offering providers unparalleled opportunities for research - collaboration - and professional growth.
• Here - you'll work alongside dedicated colleagues in an environment that values your expertise and supports your career aspirations-all while serving those who served our nation.
• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers.
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest.
• This is an approach to healthcare that seeks to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran.
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community.
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.