Dental Hygienist at Leavenworth

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN) 974583

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincolns promise – "To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan" – by serving and honoring the men and women who are Americas Veterans.  
How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities and leadership positions at your fingertips. Not only is it the largest, most technologically advanced integrated health care system in the Nation, but we also provide many other services to Veterans through the Benefits Administration and National Cemeteries. VA professionals feel good about their careers and their ability to balance work and home life. VA offers generous paid time off and a variety of predictable and flexible scheduling opportunities.  For more information on the Department of Veterans Affairs, go to http://www.vacareers.va.gov/

NOTE:  The Professional Standards Board (a peer-review group) will review the selected candidate’s education and experience and recommend the step at which the candidate will be placed in that specific grade.  The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidate.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply.  The health related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses are NOT authorized for this position.

 

First Area of Consideration (AOC) will be given to AFGE permanent employees, Leavenworth, VAMC.  Second AOC will be to additional EKHCS permanent employees.  Third AOC will be given to the public (U.S. Citizens and U.S. Nationals.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Must pass pre-employment examination
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Designated and-or Random Drug Testing required
• Background and-or Security Investigation required

DUTIES:Back to top

The Dental Hygienist is an integral part of the Dental Service within the Surgery and Surgical Subspecialty service line at VA Eastern Kansas Health Care System, Leavenworth division. The Dental Hygienist provides direct patient care under the general supervision of the dentist and performs other clinical and clerical functions independently of direct supervision. Major duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

• Setting up operatory for planned dental procedures and cleaning dental unit for timely turnover
• Obtaining dental images
• Handling dental instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently
• Providingroutine oral prophylactic care to include application of fluoride solutions
• Providing gross debridement, deep scaling, and curettage and root planning procedures
• Cleaning dental prostheses (fixed and removable)
• Managing dental recall system
• Referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed
• Applying desensitizing and sealant materials
• Making impressions for fluoride carrier trays
• Providing patient education appropriate to the Veterans needs and oral condition
• Accomplishing all procedures within standard infection control protocols.
• Serving as clinical instructor for dental hygiene students

 

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:Back to top

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:   

• U.S. citizenship.  Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Licensure.  Applicants must be currently licensed to practice as a dental hygienist with a full, current, and unrestricted license in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Certification.  Public Law 97-35 requires that persons who administer radiologic procedures meet the credentialing standards in 42 CFR Part 75.  Essentially, you must have successfully completed an educational program that meets or exceeds the standards described in that regulation, and is accredited by an organization recognized by the Department of Education, and be certified as radiographers in your field. Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate Dental Hygienist under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a) (1) (D).  Failure to obtain licensure during that period is justification for termination of the temporary appointment.  This may result in termination of employment.
• English language proficiency.  Dental hygienists must be proficient in spoke and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005/15, Part II, Chapter 2, Section D, paragraph 5a.

 

Preferred Experience: The preferred applicant will have experience in independently performing a wide variety of prophylactic and preventative dental hygiene procedures and experience instructing dental hygiene students.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

GRADE DETERMINATIONS:

GS-9

 

(a) Experience.   At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the core competencies described at that level.   In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs designated by an asterisk (*):

 

(b)   Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

 

  1.  Skill in performing specialized prophylactic and preventive dental hygiene procedures;

 

  2.  Ability to independently perform expanded dental functions under the technical guidance of a professional dentist;

 

  *3.  Skill in providing individual and group oral health care instructions to patients and other staff regarding the practice of effective oral hygiene techniques; and

 

  *4.  Skill in presenting oral hygiene lectures and demonstrations, and developing training materials.

References: References: VA Handbook 5005/55, Part II, Appendix G37, Dental Hygienist QUALIFICATION STANDARD dated March 17, 2006.

PLEASE NOTE:  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement.)  Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly.  If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Light lifting (under 15 pounds),  light carrying (under 15 pounds), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (up to 3 hours per shift), standing (up to 2 hours per shift), repeated bending (up to 6 hours per shift), both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable to 13" to 16", far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, ability to read written material, both eyes required, ability to distinguish shades of color, hearing (aid permitted), emotional/mental stability.

Veterans Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference on the Occupational Questionnaire in the section provided and provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) and/or documentation related to your active duty service which shows dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), or dates of impending separation.

Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veterans Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.  For more information, please review the information for disabled Veterans in the application checklist or visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx.

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Your application, résumé and/or supporting documentation will be verified.  Please follow all instructions carefully.  Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Country: USA, State: Kansas, City: Leavenworth, Company: Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration.