Medical Instrument Technician -Polysomnography

Applicants pending completion of educational/certification/licensure requirements may be referred & tentatively selected but can't 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 US citizens
• English Language Proficiency Applicants must be proficient in spoken & written English
• Education. There are no specific educational requirements for occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at GS-4 & GS-5 levels. See grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.

Grade Determination Requirements: Criteria discussed in applicable headings must be met when determining candidate's grade in addition to basic requirements for employment.

GS-4 Trainee

Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. 6 months of experience may have been in medically related fields such as nursing assistant, practical nursing or similar fields. Remaining 6 months must have been in operating diagnostic & therapeutic equipment covered by occupation. Experience gained in operating equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level.

OR

Education. Successful completion of 2 years of education above high school or associate's degree w/ a major field of study directly related to medical instrument technician occupation

In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated KSAs

1) Knowledge of basic medical terminology
2) Ability to learn components, operating characteristics & settings of equipment used
3) Ability to learn typical patient reactions to basic procedures involved & ability to recognize distress signs
4) Ability to learn standard positions for procedure being conducted5) Ability to communicate orally & in writing

GS-5 Trainee

Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. Experience in operating equipment related to polysomnography or in related functional areas. Experience gained in operating equipment for animal diagnosis or treatment may be credited through this grade level.

OR

Education. Successful completion of 4 academic years above high school leading to bachelor's degree w/ courses related to occupation or bachelor's degree in major field of study appropriate to medical instrument technician functions

In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs

Demonstrated KSAs

1) Knowledge of standard medical terminology to interpret physician orders or instructions
2) Knowledge of common physical disabilities & ability to position patients for the examination or treatment
3) Ability to learn the normal/abnormal results for routine procedures to recognize & report obvious abnormalities
4) Ability to operate equipment to administer routine/standard diagnostic treatment or procedures
5) Ability to perform standard operator maintenance on equipment including ability to disassemble, clean, reassemble & calibrate machine

GS-6-MIT-Polysomnography

Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties.

In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated KSAs

1) Knowledge of standard, computerized polysomnographs for recording continuous all night physiological data including EEG, EOG, EKG, EMG & respiratory parameters
2) Knowledge of standard devices such as oximeters, respiratory effort devices, nasal pressure devices, thermistors, thermocouples, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines & laboratory computers including ability to calibrate & operate equipment & recognize & eliminate recording artifacts
3) Knowledge of medical terminology & medical record organization to review medical records, sleep study orders, consent forms, medical charts, etc
4) Knowledge of polysmnographic procedural protocols (including overnight sleep studies, MSLT, MWT, PAP, etc)
5) Knowledge of basic anatomy and physiology & international 10-20 electrode placement system to conduct the sleep studies

GS-7 MIT-Polysomnography

Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. Experience which provided individual w/ KSAs to independently conduct difficult but standardized polysomnography examinations

In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated KSAs

1) Knowledge of CPAP function & operation to select & fit appropriate PAP patient interface devices
2) Ability to independently titrate & document PAP level to achieve therapeutic goals
3) Knowledge of indications, complications & contraindications of CPAP therapy
4) Knowledge of Bi-Level pressure titrations
5) Ability to recognize changes seen during the PSG tracing & identify all sleep stages, including ability to score & analyze sleep stages in clinical polysomnography recordings

GS-8 MIT-Polysomnography

Experience. At least 1 year experience comparable to next lower grade level which demonstrates KSAs & other characteristics related to position duties. Experience which provided a knowledge of more complex procedures & knowledge of uncommon &/or rare sleep disorders

In addition, candidates must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated KSAs

1) Advanced knowledge or International Classification of Sleep Disorders & ability to recognize uncommon &/or rare sleep disorders
2) Ability to summarize & report polysomnographic data in narrative form
3) Knowledge of event characteristics (e.g., respiratory, cardiac, sleep stage, seizures, etc.) & ability to take appropriate action
4) Ability to provide briefings & orientation to hospital staff including physicians

Preferred Experience: Registered Polysomnography Technologist certification from Board of Registered Polysomnography Technologists. Sleep lab experience. BLS &/or ALS certification

Reference: For more information on qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Vacancy full performance level is a GS-8. Applicants may be selected in grade ranges GS-4 to GS-8

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to use your hands to grasp & precisely manipulate objects
Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken or written word
Must be able to view, read, enter, edit & manipulate information on computer screens
Must pass, possess & maintain BLS certification