Diagnostic Radiologic Technician (Intermittent)

Major Duties and Responsibilities to include but are not limited to:

• Receive patients confirm patient identification obtain patient history provide patient education provide reassurance and ensure patient comfort.
• Perform fall risk assessment and mobilize appropriate assistive lifting and transfer devices as needed.
• Continually assess the condition and needs of patients to ensure patient safety comfort privacy and dignity.
• Review exam requests for appropriateness before performing exams.
• Perform general radiography exams. Operate Direct Radiography (DR) equipment including portable and fixed radiography units.
• Optimize technical factors such as exposure patient positioning centering collimation grids filters protocol selection and other relevant factors to achieve high quality diagnostic radiographs with the lowest radiation achievable dose and the minimum number of retakes.
• Apply knowledge of radiographic exposure techniques both manual and photo-timed including the use of exposure tables.
• Modify exam protocols as needed to adapt to specific exam or patient requirements.
• Optimize images for radiologist interpretation: establish images in standard orientation and apply annotations before archiving. Archive exams and perform requisite quality control to ensure that completed exams are stored in entirety in the designated archives.
• Receive patients for fluoroscopic exams and procedures provide education and reassurance instruct and assist in dressing for the study and confirm patient identification.
• Apply knowledge of barium preparations and iodinated contrast materials to include the appropriate concentration and types for various applications risk assessment techniques for mixing diluting route of administration and recognition of adverse reactions. Apply knowledge of contrast reactions and appropriate levels of response.
• Apply knowledge of Bone Densitometry (BD) systems including quality control specific exposure requirements system applications image analysis and digital post-processing techniques to optimize image quality and annotate images. Apply knowledge of positioning techniques to ensure precision and accuracy of bone densitometry.
• Perform general maintenance operations on equipment such as warm-up and shutdown sequences calibration QC and basic troubleshooting.
• Maintain logs to document equipment performance history and malfunctions.
• Identify deviations from equipment specifications and initiate service or other corrective action.
• Evaluate exams for diagnostic quality before submitting them for interpretation.
• Recognize critical findings and alert the supervising radiologist to facilitate timely provider notification.
• Apply working knowledge of radiation physics to the operation of radiography and fluoroscopy equipment including radiographic exposure techniques (both manual and photo-timed exposures) use of exposure tables digital detectors intensifying screens collimators filters grids and other technical aids to acquire radiographs of diagnostic quality with the minimum of retakes.
• Download images onto CD/DVD or other approved storage devices according to established protocols and policies.
• Upload outside images to PACS according to established protocols and policies.
• For sterile procedures prepare a sterile procedure table with the requisite procedure tray supplies and medications. Receive specimens enter policy orders and prepare for transport with appropriate labelling. Deliver specimens to lab as needed.
• Use medical center computer systems to perform clinical and administrative duties.
• Maintain appropriate inventory of supplies and materials. Apply stocking procedures to ensure organization and integrity of stock and removal of outdated items.
• Provide rotational coverage for all established tours per departmental needs. Provides overtime coverage on an emergency basis as needed.

Work Schedule: Possible coverage for days nights evenings weekends holidays 10 hour shifts 12 hour shifts and on call.
Telework: Not available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

• 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.
• 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• 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.

Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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:

• Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified candidates in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 Part II chapter 3 section A paragraph 3g.)
• Certification. All applicants must be certified in general radiologic technology by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology Radiography (ARRT) (R). Exception for Non-Certified Entry Level Candidates. Non-certified DRTs who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for ARRT (R) certification may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate DRT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)(B). The appointing official may waive the requirement of certification for a period not to exceed two years for a DRT that provides care under the supervision of a certified DRT at or above the full performance level. This exception only applies at the GS-5 entry level technician. For grade levels above the entry level the candidate must be certified. Temporary appointments of non-certified DRTs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment.
• Education. Completion of a full-time training course of at least 24 months in duration (or the equivalent) in a post-high school diagnostic radiologic technology program evidenced by a certificate or an associate degree accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT) or from other accrediting agencies as recognized by the Department of Education (DOE).
• English Language Proficiency. DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) and 7407(d).
• Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Requirements: In addition to the basic requirements you must meet the following grade requirements.

Diagnostic Radiologic Technician GS-5.
Experience or Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

Diagnostic Radiologic Technician GS-6.
Experience or Education. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level or the successful completion of one full academic year of graduate education leading to a degree in radiography or other directly related field to diagnostic radiology/imaging.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of basic technique standards for minimum radiographic exposure.
2. Knowledge of anatomy and positioning.
3. Knowledge of all patient safety procedures.
4. Knowledge of radiographic producing equipment.
5. Ability to learn basic computer functions.

Diagnostic Radiologic Technician GS-7.
Experience or Education. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level; or the successful completion of one full academic year of graduate education leading to a degree in radiography or other directly related field to diagnostic radiology/imaging; or successful completion of an advanced registry program with certification in addition to a 4-year baccalaureate degree program in radiography or other directly related field to diagnostic radiology/imaging. Education may relate to the duties of a specific position or to the occupation but must be appropriate for the position being filled.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Knowledge of the technical adequacy of the digital image including the ability to adjust the image quality in the digital system.
2. Knowledge of different contrast material required for the requested study.
3. Knowledge of radiation protection standards minimum radiographic exposure techniques appropriate beam limitation to anatomical area and employing lead shielding when performing standard radiographic and fluoroscopic procedures.
4. Knowledge of computed radiography CR readers and Digital Imaging systems.
5. Knowledge of PACS and basic computer skills.

Diagnostic Radiologic Technician GS-8.
Experience. At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level.
AND
Demonstrated Knowledge Skills and addition to the experience above the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:

1. Ability to check system for operation and assess acceptable performance based on established guidelines.
2. Knowledge of calibration parameters and the ability to make adjustments as needed.
3. Knowledge of patients clinical record diagnosis and laboratory results.
4. Ability to monitor patients physiologic changes during the procedure and keep the radiologist informed.
5. Skill in using tact diplomacy and courtesy in dealings with the customer base patients staff family visitors and volunteers.
6. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology and cross-sectional anatomy recognizing unusual images and determining proper positioning to best demonstrate areas of interest.

Preferred Experience: Experience with workflow in XRAY Operating Room Fluoro and Bone Densitometry.

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 in the range of GS-05 to GS-08.

Physical Requirements: Frequent standing walking grasping carrying reaching bending stooping and speaking. Lifting carrying pushing and pulling up to 25 pounds. Frequent use of computer keyboard and phone. Precise control of power-assisted equipment and devices.