Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

The primary purpose of this position is to perform a range of duties required to decontaminate clean prepare store and distribute medical supplies and equipment used in all areas of the hospital. Duties of the Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) may include but are not limited to:

• Inventories replenishes shortages from sterile supply inspects for sterility integrity for instrument sets and expendable items.
• Adheres to facility regulations regarding application and removal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Rotates restocks outdated supplies and maintains stock levels of surgical supplies and equipment for wards clinics and the operating room.
• Initiates requests for items based on the daily schedule of needs or individual requisitions.
• Prepares individual surgical case carts with required instruments and surgical supplies for each scheduled and emergency operative procedure.
• Trains new and/or lower graded employees at the request of supervision.
• Receives a full range of reusable medical supplies instruments and equipment from hospital wards clinics and operating rooms.
• Decontaminates reusable items by determining the appropriate method for removing gross contamination by means of manual cleaning procedures.
• Disassembles decontaminates and reassembles items as required.
• Operates automated reprocessing equipment such as the ultrasonic cleaner and washer/disinfectors in accordance with the device Instructions for Use (IFU).
• Conducts High-Level Disinfection (HLD) procedures by means of manual and automated processes while following the device(s) IFUs.
• Examines items and instruments for damage deterioration or imperfection.
• Maintains accurate written records of quality and preventative maintenance of such equipment.
• Follows all device specific Instructions for Use (IFU) and set forth Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) when conducting assembly and sterilization procedures.
• Assembles a wide variety of instrument trays and sets used for medical procedures including the operating room.
• Checks for damaged or missing items and arranges for replacements maintenance or repair as needed.
• Processes assembles and performs all phases of sterilization for intricate surgical trays and microsurgery instruments for the operating room (trays contain large numbers of unique non-interchangeable specialized surgical instruments of similar appearance with minor variations in size conformation and nomenclature but with major variation in application).
• Researches and applies the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Federal Drug Administration (FDA) standards as they pertain to sterile processing and the distribution of medical supplies.

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 evaluation.
• 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

Basic Requirements:

• Citizenship - You must be a citizen of the United States
• English Language Proficiency - English Language Proficiency - You must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d)
• Experience and/or Education -
  • Experience - Six months of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the work or provides an understanding of the work; OR
  • Education - One year above high school that included at least 6 semester hours in health care related courses such as sterile processing nursing assistant hospital corpsman and operating room and surgical technician courses or other courses related to the position; OR
  • Experience/Education Combination - Equivalent combination of experience and education are qualifying for entry level for which both education and experience are acceptable.

• Experience/Education Requirement: To qualify for the GS-04 you must meet one of the following experience or education requirements:
  • Experience: Six months experience as a MST operating room or surgical technician or other position that demonstrated knowledge of sterile processing in a clinical setting; OR
  • Education: Two years of education above high school that included at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation. NOTE: Successful completion of a course for medical technicians hospital corpsmen medical service specialists or nursing assistants obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces the US. Maritime Service or hospitals under close medical and professional supervision may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to 6 months of experience.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
  • Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
  • Basic knowledge of medical terminology to assemble specialty operating room/clinic instrument sets.
  • Basic knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.
  • Ability to communicate both orally and in writing.

• Experience/Education Requirement: To qualify for the GS-05 you must meet one of the following experience or education requirements:
  • Experience: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-04). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Performing segments of work pertaining to the decontamination sterilization and inspection of reusable medical equipment (RME); completing segments of work pertaining to the assembly of basic sets and trays for use in the medical center; operating equipment involved in sterilization processes; preparing operating room case carts; OR
  • Education: Four academic years above high school leading to a Bachelors degree with at least 12 semester hours in courses related to the occupation or a Bachelors degree.

• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience or education above the candidate must demonstrate the KSAs below:
  • Basic knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
  • Basic knowledge of event-related packaging in regards to sterility.
  • Knowledge of sterilization and cleaning equipment.

• Experience Requirement: To qualify for the GS-06 you must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-05). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Removing soil blood tissue fragments body fluids and other containments by wiping soaking rinsing and scrubbing; Inspecting packages for indications of proper sterilization assembling basic sets and trays used throughout a medical facility including those used in the operating room; preparing loading and operating sterilizers such as steam Sterrad Steris ETO and a high level disinfecting scope reprocessor; prepares operating room case carts daily using surgery schedule.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above you must demonstrate the following KSAs:
  • Knowledge of surgical instruments used in operating rooms and clinic settings.
  • Knowledge of universal precautions for safety and prevention of cross contamination.
  • Working knowledge of medical terminology anatomy and physiology microbiology medical conditions and procedures.
  • Knowledge of sterility principles in regard to instrumentation.
  • Ability to read and interpret written instructions and procedures.