Health Technician (Long Term Care)
What you'd do
This position is located in Nursing department of the VA Center in Lyons, New Jersey serving as a Health Technician functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements.
Major duties
DUTIES MAY INCLUDE HOWEVER ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: Operates and supports providers and registered nurses in designated clinical area using diagnostic and therapeutic medical instruments/equipment including Electrocardiogram, Spirometry, Visual Acuity Screening, and Bladder scan according to established procedures and with documented competency. Locates and sets up equipment needed for complex diagnostic procedures. Operates, Calibrates, and maintains medical instruments or equipment. Monitors and plans equipment inventory, routine, equipment maintenance, and services as unit resource for cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of non-critical, semi-critical, and critical Reusable Medical Devices. Demonstrates leadership in advocating patient safety and educate multidisciplinary staff in assigned area of RMD. Supports health and medical staff during diagnosis and treatment of patients. Gathers screening data on patients admitted to the hospital to include fall risk, allergies, current medications, homelessness, abuse, means and mode of arrival, danger to self or others, and exposure to communicable diseases. Recognizes and informs appropriate multidisciplinary health Care team deviations from baseline screening parameters. Performs phlebotomy in designated areas. Applies basic splints and performs dressing changes in designated areas. Performs point of Care testing using glucometer devices according to established unit procedures and with competency validation. Educates other HR Staff and serves as the expert source in resource in specialized equipment/supply maintenance, operation, and quality assurance monitoring. Performs 1:1 patient observation according to policy. Performs TMO monitoring as assigned. May be designated as a Rapid Response Team member when assigned to the ICU. Assisting patients with swallowing disorders with meals, bowel and bladder hygiene and assisting patients with oral/bath hygiene. Specimen collection procedures and point of care testing. Performs routine diagnostic tests such as venipuncture, electrocardiogram, bladder scans, visual acuity screening appropriate for assigned clinical areas and demonstrated competency. Care and treatments of patients with critical and emergent conditions. Assists nurses and physicians in the care and treatment of critically ill and emergent patients. Performs standardized treatment procedures requiring considerable training and experience such as performing pharyngeal suctions, setting up and regulating the flow of oxygen, or analyzing pulmonary waveforms, application of basic orthopedic splints, Care and treatment of patients with acute and chronic mental health conditions. Provides nursing care to patients experiencing extremes of behavior. Recognizes emergency mental health situations such as suicidal ideation and intervenes by utilizing techniques to keep the patient safe while awaiting assistance per procedure. Reinforces education presented by a provider or RN including reinforcing patients and caregivers the necessity to continue the procedures for proper health care. Assists with stocking and room tun-over to ensure the patient care environment is prepared to receive and care for patients. Identifies equipment that is malfunctioning and uses the proper procedure to submit a work order, track progress, and/or turn the equipment in for decommissioning. Preferred Experience: - (3 - 5) years of Health Technician experience in LTC or Medicine.- This position requires documented experience providing direct patient care support in a healthcare setting (such as a hospital, long-term care, rehabilitation, or skilled nursing facility).- Demonstrated experience providing care and support to geriatric patients and/or Veterans in a long-term care, rehabilitation, or hospital environment.- Proficiency with electronic health records (such as VA¿s CPRS), have actively participated in interdisciplinary care teams, and who possess specialized training or experience in dementia care, restorative nursing, or end-of-life care. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 4:00pm with every other weekend per unity policy. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: 49476-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized.
What you need to qualify
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/10/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Basic anatomy and physiology to include location and function of major body organs and structures. Completion of formal nursing assistant program and/or active-duty military equivalent. Lead placement for 12 lead electrocardiogram and telemetry monitoring, monitor alarm parameters, operation, and maintenance of cardiopulmonary and electrocardiogram equipment. Vital sign measurements, deviation from norms, documentation, and procedure for reporting results. Pulse oximetry monitoring, peak flow measurement, and incentive spirometry. Knowledge of life-threatening emergencies and initial response. Knowledge of emergency situations such as cardiopulmonary failure, hemorrhaging, and shock and how to assist in the performance of resuscitation measures. Safe patient handling including patient transfers and transportation by wheelchair and/or gurney. Operation of safe patient handling equipment Infection control practices including universal precautions to protect patients and self from infection. Knowledge of behavioral and non-behavioral restraints including application and safety considerations Knowledge of 1:1 and Direct Line of Sight procedures and provisions for protection and safety for those with self harm behaviors Electronic medical records, patient identification procedures, and information security OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have you successfully completed half a year of graduate education (usually 9 semester hours) that has to be directly related to this position OR Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond combination of specialized experience and graduate education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit.. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
Before you apply
Federal applications are different: your resume should be 3–5 pages and mirror the language of this announcement. Read our federal resume guide first — it's the #1 reason qualified people get screened out.
Don't miss the next one.
Get an email the moment a similar federal job opens — postings can close in as little as 5 days.