Medical Instrument Technician - Electrocardiograph Technician (EKG)

About the role

The Medical Instrument Technician (EKG) is assigned to the Central Telemetry Unit on a rotating tour of duty and reports to the Nurse Manager. The Monitor Technician provides direct and indirect patient care support through continuous cardiac telemetry monitoring, rhythm interpretation, documentation, and prompt communication of urgent rhythm changes to nursing staff and providers to promote patient safety.

Responsibilities

• Continuous observation of telemetry monitors for assigned patients
• Identify and interpret cardiac rhythms, arrhythmias, and waveform abnormalities
• Immediately notify nursing staff/provider of rhythm changes or critical findings
• Follow escalation protocols for urgent or emergent cardiac events
• Document notifications according to policy
• Maintain accurate telemetry strips and rhythm interpretation records
• Document baseline rhythms, rhythm changes, alarms, and interventions per facility policy
• Print, label, and file rhythm strips
• Apply, troubleshoot, and maintain telemetry equipment and leads
• Ensure monitors function properly
• Address artifact, lead failure, signal loss, and technical issues
• Cook up equipment repairs or replacement when needed
• Assisting with placement/removal of telemetry leads
• Preparing patients for monitoring
• Educating patients about telemetry equipment
• Monitor alarms continuously
• Differentiate true clinical alarms from false alarms/artifact
• Reduce alarm fatigue while maintaining patient safety

Requirements

• Experience: At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics related to the duties of the positions to be filled. This would be experience which provided knowledge of the equipment, standard tests and procedures, and typical readings including arrhythmias and abnormalities. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills and Abilities 1Ability to recognize special patient needs such as disabilities, impaired mobility, and complicating medical conditions in order to prepare and position the patient for the prescribed procedure2Knowledge of the specialized equipment and accessories appropriate to Holter monitoring and ability to perform such tests3Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment4Ability to monitor the patient for adverse reactions and take appropriate action5Ability to operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing
• Licenses/Certifications: No certification is required however, it is desirable that employees at this level have BCLS (Basic Cardiac Life Support) certification

Qualifications

• Education: There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions
• Training: 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)

Skills

• Knowledge of specialized equipment and accessories appropriate to Holter monitoring and ability to perform such tests
• Knowledge of universal precautions and sterilization techniques and ability to follow CDC guidelines in cleaning equipment
• Ability to recognize special patient needs such as disabilities, impaired mobility, and complicating medical conditions in order to prepare and position the patient for the prescribed procedure
• Ability to monitor the patient for adverse reactions and take appropriate action
• Ability to operate the equipment to perform standard and routine highly specialized procedures including exercise stress testing

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Schedule

Varying schedules that may include off-tours, weekends, and holidays will be discussed during the interview process and are subject to change based on Agency needs. May be required to work rotating weekends and holidays.