Medical Instrument Technician (Anesthesia)

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Major Duties:

• Assists Anesthesia staff as needed with connecting and operating noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring equipment blood and fluid warmers as well as patient warming devices.
• Assists Anesthesia staff as needed with connecting and operating invasive hemodynamic monitoring equipment (arterial pressure monitors) Anesthesia Machines ventilators intubation bronchoscopes and ultrasonic scanning devices etc.
• Performs clinical laboratory tests for the operating rooms and the entire hospital as needed.
• Properly disposes of all non-sterile equipment used in procedures and properly stores medications and sterile equipment within the Anesthesia lab and storage area. Serves as a circulating technician for supplies and assists with documentation of hemodynamic patient data.
• Provides assistance to residents in the SICU with Blood Gas monitor set-up calibrations and invasive line placements.
• Participates in the application of safety and infection control processes and adheres to all facility Bio Med and Sterile Processing and Decontamination requirements and regulations.
• Maintains and utilizes anesthesiology supplies and equipment appropriate to less complex anesthetic procedures such as those found in Ambulatory Surgery.
• Maintains Anesthesia supplies medications and equipment appropriate to more difficult anesthetic procedures such as those found in inpatient settings with more acutely ill patients.
• Troubleshoots equipment often while the patient is anesthetized and utilizes invasive patient monitoring equipment specific to anesthesiology.
• Performs basic use of electrocardiography (EKG) equipment and correctly uses non invasive patient monitoring equipment specific to anesthesiology and identifies and understands wave forms including recognizing and distinguishing normal from abnormal artifact from abnormality and forewarn the physician or anesthetist of an impending life-threatening situation.
• Uses electronics and Anesthesia equipment with skill in repairing and maintaining this equipment and repairing complex problems.
• Assists with Anesthetic procedures in the ORs at Audie L Murphy VAMC and designated Units throughout the facility assisting in procedures such as regional anesthesia (Epidural and Spinal) laryngeal mask airways and monitor anesthesia while using knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. (Specific cardiac and pulmonary).
• Performs venous and pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheterization procedures including measuring cardiac outputs and intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation procedures.
• Performs as needed will perform large vessel cannulations characteristic of open heart and major vascular surgeries.
• Assists in the transportation of critically ill patients to and from the Surgical Suites and assists under the guidance of an Anesthesiologist with intubations medications and CPR.
• Communicates effectively and professionally with patients and employees at varying grade levels.

• 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 identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• 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.

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. 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.
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.
• 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.

• Experience. At least 1 year of experience comparable to the next lower grade level which is directly related to the duties of the position to be filled and must fully meet the KSAs at that level. This would include specialized experience as an anesthesia technician which demonstrates possession of the knowledge skills and abilities required to provide all aspects of anesthesia technician services including specialized duties.
• Certification. Anesthesia technician certification through the American Society of Anesthesia Technologists and Technicians (ASATT) is highly desirable. Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certifications are also desirable for employees at this level.
• Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and Abilities.
  1. Knowledge and comprehensive understanding of laboratory testing procedures to include maintenance calibration and quality control procedures. This includes the ability to perform these lab tests accurately and correctly.
  2. Advanced knowledge of electronics and anesthesia equipment with skill in repairing and maintaining this equipment and repairing complex problems.
  3. Comprehensive knowledge of central venous and pulmonary artery (Swan-Ganz) catheterization procedures including measuring cardiac outputs and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation procedures (i.e. balloon pump).
  4. Knowledge and ability to assist with airway management techniques.
  5. Knowledge of JCAHO and other regulatory requirements.
  6. Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying grade levels.

• One year experience
• Familiar with blood gasses machines