Duties

ASSIGNED DUTIES FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works in support of the Sterile Processing (SPS) Team.
• Keep in touch with the status and progress of work and make day to day adjustments in accordance with established priorities, obtaining assistance from the supervisor on problems that may arise.
• Responsible to practice in a professional manner the necessary leadership in representing, promulgating, and enforcing the standards of quality assurance, infection control, JCAHO, and other regulatory agencies.
• Distribute and balance the workload among employees in accordance with established workflow or assure timely accomplishment of the assigned workload and assure that each employee has enough work to keep busy with ensuring staff are able to show productivity of at least 10% per shift.
• Identifies needs of surgical supplies and RME to prepare surgical case carts. All items placed in a case cart must be examined for package integrity per VA and AAMI guidelines.
• Utilizes patient specific pick list to accurately gather surgical instruments and disposable supplies requested by attending surgeon or other Pre-Operative representatives.
• Inspects items during the pick process to ensure package integrity remains intact, package is within expiration date, and substitutes are appropriate.
• Determine and direct decontamination staff in the correct use method for decontamination of medical instruments.
• Reports broken equipment, instruments, and patient safety issues to the Supervisor or Management Team immediately.
• Works with the OR staff or RME Coordinator to ensure needed instruments are ordered and in good repair.
• Evaluates out of service instruments daily and communicates appropriately to the SPS Supervisor and OR Management.
• Acts as a training coordinator for a continuous in-service training program, assuring development of subordinates in aseptic techniques, infection control, the use of new medical supplies, instruments, and equipment, new or improved sterilization practices.
• Performs and validates all cleaning of instrumentation and RME using department Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), manufacturer's instructions for use guidelines, Medical Center Memorandums, and VA policies and directives.
• Utilizes knowledge of Censitrac tracking system. Enters and updates surgical sets list in Censitrac to include item name, manufacturer, and quantity.
• Ensures surgical instruments, trays, and containers have required Censitrac markings.
• Utilizes Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as required.
• Performs multi-step procedures to effectively process endoscopes, i.e., cystoscopes, ureteroscopes, colonoscopes, and other endoscopic instruments.
• Reads and understands Material Safety Data Sheets.
• Operates equipment such as Medivator Advantage Plus, Trophon EPR, Steam Sterilizers, Washer Decontaminators, Ultrasonic Washers, AER equipment irrigators, laparoscopic insulation tester, and Automatic Cart Washers, Sterrad NX100, Sterrad NX, heat sealers, tube dryers, and incubators.
• Interprets gauge readings and mechanical printouts on sterilization equipment to validate that sterilization of RME is within acceptable parameters.
• Maintains records for all sterilization procedures that are processed including interpretation of all biological monitoring, validation of monitoring results, and quality assurance checks to ensure sterilization parameters are met.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

How You Will Be Evaluated

• Benefits

  A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

  Review our benefits

  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

• Required Documents

  As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  • Resume

  The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
  

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (Schedule A)
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • Licensure & Certification - Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA)
  VA Form 102850c
  • - Application for Associated Health Occupations
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Professional Certification
  • Reasonable Accommodation Documentation
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

  Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

  All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 04/22/2024 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12367457.

  • To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

  • Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

  NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date.
  To verify your application is complete, log into your USA JOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the more information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USA JOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USA JOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

  Agency contact information

  Shamika Parnell-Meyers

  Email

  shamika.parnell-meyers@va.gov

  Address

  Fayetteville NC VA Medical Center
  2300 Ramsey Street
  Fayetteville, NC 28301
  US

  Next steps

  Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. After we receive application packages (including all required documents) and the vacancy announcement closes, we will review applications to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made.
  You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center.
  NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

• Fair and Transparent

  The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy
  • Reasonable accommodation policy
  • Financial suitability
  • Selective Service
  • New employee probationary period
  • Signature and false statements
  • Privacy Act
  • Social security number request

Required Documents

Clarification from the agency

Open to U.S. Citizens. (Consideration: 1. VA Facility Internal Employees, 2. VA Agency Employees, 3. All Federal Agency Employees, 4: Vets (CP/CPS, XP, TP, & SSP), and 5. All other applicants. (Note: Non-Vets will be referred only after all preference eligible applicants have been exhausted)