Summary

The Nursing Specialty Service line located at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System - is currently recruiting for Medical Instrument Technicians (MIT) Cardiac Sonographer (Echocardiographer). MIT's perform procedures and examinations on patients as a clinical or research service to physicians. The service relates to the treatment of particular patients - or it involves providing the physician with technical information used in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in patients.

Qualifications

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.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: (Preferred) Complete an accredited echocardiography program or possess a degree in a Health-related field (receiving an associate degree or higher) accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE) Licensure or Certification: (Required) Current certification as either a Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) or a Registered Cardiac Sonographer through Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI)
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-08 Experience: In addition to the basic requirements candidates must possess 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 the overall knowledge - skills - and abilities to conduct diagnostic echocardiography examinations in complex and unusual cases
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to produce diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency shift recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - pulsed and continuous wave Doppler spectral display - and colorflow Doppler imaging
• Knowledge of normal echocardiographic findings and deviations produced by a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases
• Ability to perform complex procedures such as cardiac studies of the four chambers of the heart and valves using sector scanning techniques to detect stenotic and incompetent valves - chamber enlargement - and pericardial effusion and cardiovascular studies deriving pressure gradients across obstructed valves - etc
• Ability to perform complementary ultrasonic examinations (including noninvasive) transthoracic - Bubble studies and contrast echocardiography - (invasive) stress echocardiography - and transesophageal echocardiography
• Ability to adapt transducer positioning - instrument controls - and examination techniques to the individual patient being studied and the problem being evaluated including recognizing pertinent abnormalities and documenting abnormal findings
• Certification
• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G27- Medical Instrument Technician Qualification Standard - Appendix D - Medical Instrument Technician (Echocardiography) For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be physically and mentally able to perform the essential functions of the position without hazard to themselves or others
• This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing and lifting up to 45lbs
• Transferring patients and objects may be required.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Identifies and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury - or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of the Doppler
• Changes and develop sounding techniques to accommodate such variables as limited patient mobility - variation in physical condition or dimension of the patient
• Interacts with patients explaining procedures and positioning and prepping the patient for procedure
• Produces diagnostic quality images and Doppler frequency recordings using M-mode - two-dimensional - and Doppler ultrasound
• Administers contrast when required for image quality per protocol
• Maintains a high level of knowledge regarding patient monitoring equipment - patient positioning and comfort - peripheral venous access - and proper handling of lab specimens
• Ensures proper performance of equipment - set up equipment - and reprocess reusable medical equipment (RME)
• Identifies and record anomalies indicative of disease - injury or other medically significant condition from ultrasound imaging and simultaneous recordings of Doppler imaging
• Incorporates causes and results of a variety of symptoms and conditions into a plan of ultrasonic diagnostic examination
• Reviews appointments for accuracy and communicate issues to multidisciplinary team and/or Clinical Nurse Manager
• Advises cardiologist and/or referring physician of critically abnormal results of Echocardiography studies - providing physician with accurate calculations and preliminary diagnostic evaluation of the Echocardiogram
• Administers contrast when required for image quality per protocol
• Performs standard operator maintenance on the equipment including the ability to troubleshoot equipment
• Sets up cardiac sonography equipment and ensures equipment functions properly
• Work Schedule: Varies: Monday through Friday - 7:30am - 5:00pm including rotating weekends as needed
• Compressed/Flexible: Alternate/compressed hours may be considered
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized