Medical Supply Technician Sterile Processing (Technical Career Field Trainee (TCF)

About the role

The Technical Career Field (TCF) is a national workforce development program within VHA that was designed to replenish technical staff in critically identified positions. This Trainee position is located at the Jerry L Pettis VA Medical Center in Loma Linda, California. As a Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing), you'll help ensure reusable medical equipment is properly reprocessed, maintained, and ready for use across the facility.

Responsibilities

The TCF career fields represent those technical fields where VA-specific knowledge and experience is desirable for success in the field. Individuals selected follow a formal training plan for two years during which they are trained, coached, and supervised by a preceptor. Preceptors are selected annually, through an extensive application process, for their technical expertise, their commitment to training and the suitability of their facility as a training location.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Periodically monitors operation of sterilizer with prescribed tests
• Disassembles, cleans, lubricates, reassembles, and sterilizes dental handpieces and numerous dental specialty instruments and trays
• Properly loads and operates sterilizers such as Steam, and hydrogen peroxide gas plasma
• Selects correct sterilization method for items to be sterilized
• Monitors performance of sterilizers for quality control by conducting bacteriological tests (bacillus stearothermophilus spores for evaluation of steam and bacillus for evaluation of hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilizers)
• Properly documents load contents on sterilization records
• Receives periodic training in such areas as the use and functioning of new medical, dental and surgical instruments, and equipment

Requirements

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.

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Experience: Six months of experience that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work
• 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
• Experience/Education Combination: Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable
• English Language Proficiency: MSTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j, this part

Qualifications

Grade Determinations: Experience (must be clearly annotated on your resume): One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04) Examples of experience include but are not limited to: Performs segments of work pertaining to infection prevention, performs segments of work pertaining to the decontamination, sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME), Completes segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center, Operates equipment involved in sterilization processes, Prepares operating room case carts

OR 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

AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs must be clearly annotated on your resume) 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

Skills

Preferred Experience: Completion of TMS Sterile Processing Training Modules (Must provide proof of completion with application)

Benefits

Selectees will be required to sign Mobility, Training, and Continued Service Agreements

Pay

Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds

Schedule

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am-3:30pm or 8:00am-4:30pm (rotating assignment through different work areas of the department) but work schedule may be adjusted to meet the needs of the service

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.