Medical Instrument Technician (Diagnostic Ultrasound)

Duties include however not limited to:

• Performs a full range of ultrasound procedures including special complicated examinations for which there may not be standard instructions or procedures.
• Performs independent portable ultrasound examinations in intensive care units emergency room surgery and the Medical Center when required.
• Works independently on evenings nights and weekend tours of duty as scheduled and/or when on call.
• Knows the principles and can operate the ultrasound equipment to approve the acceptability or reject ability of each scan.
• Sets up and adjusts all equipment and manually maneuvers the transducer to perform the exam.
• Records and processes images for interpretation by a staff Radiologist or resident.
• Alerts Radiologist of emergent or abnormal findings and forwards initial interpretation of findings to Radiologist for final interpretation.
• Advises Radiologist or radiology resident of preliminary results of exams.
• Receives and identifies patients explains methods and purpose of examinations and assists movement of patients to and from: wheelchairs stretchers and tables.
• Aligns properly and positions patients for examinations.
• Coordinates and/or assist with the transportation of patients to and from the Ultrasound department.

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.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the Required Documents section of this announcement.

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Qualifications

Diagnostic Ultrasound Technicians operate diagnostic ultrasonic scanning equipment to produce cross sectional and two dimensional pictures of internal organs and body structures used to diagnose diseases and other medical conditions. Registration is offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International (CCI) or by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (ARDMS).

Basic Requirements:

Citizenship. Citizenship of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3 section A paragraph 3g this part.)

Education. There are no specific educational requirements for this occupation. Education may be substituted for experience only at the GS-4 and GS-5 levels. See the grade requirements part of this standard for information regarding educational substitutions.

Licensure or Certification. Licensure or Certification is not required for this occupation; however it is strongly desirable at GS-6 or above as evidence of possession of the essential knowledge skills and abilities. For certain functional areas at the higher levels or supervisory assignments specific certifications appropriate to the specialty are indicated in this standard under Titles and Certification/Registrations.

For all specialties identified in this standard Basic and Advanced Cardiac Life Support certifications are desirable. Training which does not result in official certification does not meet this definition.

English Language Proficiency. Medical Instrument Technicians must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 section D paragraph 5a this part.

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: Medical Instrument Technician (DU) GS-8

Experience. 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 ultrasound examinations in complex and unusual addition the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
1. Ability to perform diagnostic ultrasound examination on multiple areas of the body including but not limited to the abdomen pelvis transvaginal chest small parts thyroid breast and scrotum.
2. Ability to perform vascular studies such as vertebral renal artery aortic aneurysm portalsystemic shunts etc.
3. Ability to assist radiologists with biopsy procedures determining the location depth and required needle angle for the lesion to be sampled.
4. Ability to assist in surgical procedures and fluid aspirations.

Certification. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are desirable.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-08.

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.