The Fayetteville NC VA Medical Center has (2) openings for a Dental Hygienist to work within the Goldsboro HCC. 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. 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. Citizen of the United States. Education. Associate Degree or higher in an accredited dental hygiene program. This program must be accredited by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). 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 of the United States, 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, they 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 their field. Accredited dental hygiene programs contain curriculum addressing radiologic procedures which will meet the requirement for certification as dental radiographers. Exception. 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(c)(2)(B) for a period not to exceed 2 years. Failure to obtain certification during this time period may result in termination of employment. English Language Proficiency. Dental hygienists must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d). GRADE REQUIREMENTS Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-9 Dental Hygienist (Full Performance Level) Experience. At least 1 year of experience at the next lower grade level that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level. Assignments. Employees at this level serve as staff dental hygienists at the full performance level. They provide direct patient care and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients and require only general supervision from a dentist. Assignments at this level include but are not limited to patient medical assessment (e.g. medical/dental history, social history, vital signs, full periodontal assessment and charting), disease and treatment management recommendations, denture care, scaling and root planning, radiographs/image interpretation, patient education (e.g. post-procedure, tobacco cessation, caries and perio-disease prevention), behavior management, management of stable medically compromised patients (including risk factors), instrument sharpening, inter-service communication. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to meeting the KSAs for the GS-8 level, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Knowledge of hygiene procedures to explain the process and indication, complications and expected treatment outcomes for each. 2. Knowledge of proper usage of dental radiography equipment, radiation safety, assessment of proper image capture and interpretation of films. 3. Knowledge to select appropriate available fluoride products and indications/limitations for safe and proper application. 4. Skill in detecting plaque and calculus, dental abnormalities/pathologies, assessing inflammation and providing safe instrumentation for each procedure. 5. Skill in educating patients and caregivers on periodontal disease, wellness, health maintenance, oral hygiene practices, parafunctional habits, and effects of illness, addictions, medications and tobacco on the oral cavity. 6. Ability to assess the patient's medical, dental, anxiety/phobias, medications and comorbidities to administer safe patient care. 7. Ability to assess the impact of patient's medical and dental condition on maintaining oral health, recognize age-related changes in individual patients, adapt patient environment, and maximize patient's physical comfort. References: VA Handbook 5005/146 PART II APPENDIX G37 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["Functions: a. Customer Service\nShows courtesy, respect, and a positive attitude for patients, co-workers and the public Provides assistance to customers with questions or concerns, provides service recovery b. Patient Care\nSets up operatory for planned dental procedure and cleans dental unit for timely turnover Handles instruments safely, accurately, and efficiently\nProvides routine oral prophylactic care to include application oft7uoride solutions\nProvides gross debridement, deep scaling, and curettage and root planning procedures Cleans dental prostheses, fixed and removable\nManages dental recall system, referring patients to the doctor for additional care when needed Applies desensitizing and sealant materials\nAdministers topical anesthetic agents\nAccomplishes all procedures within standard infection control protocols c. Patient Education\nProvides patient education appropriate to the veteran's needs and oral condition\nPrepares and provides individual and group oral health care instruction to inpatients, outpatients, and caregivers d. Dental Imaging\nImages are characterized by diagnostic quality, accurately oriented and exposed Dental imaging safety techniques are utilized, and retakes are minimized e. Infection Control and Equipment Sterilization\nDemonstrates proper infection control procedures in setting up and cleaning up operatory Instruments are properly prepared for sterilization by SPD standards\nInstruments are prepared in a manner that does not delay clinical care\nDemonstrates proper infection control procedures in exposing images f. Clerical Functions\nAssists patients in scheduling appointments\nAssists in filling gaps in the schedule due to late cancellations and failed appointments Charts findings, treatment plans, and treatment provided in patient records g. Information Management\nMaintains patient confidentiality per HIPAA with written and verbal information Follows computer security regulations h. Patient Safety\nModifies care as appropriate for patient's age and abilities (patient transfer and position) Provides accurate and understandable instructions to patients\nParticipates in patient identification and time out per JCAHO requirements\nMonitors patient condition during treatment, being alert for signs of physical distress i. Employee Education\nComplies with Employee Education requirements Completes mandatory annual safety training sessions Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; Hours 7:00a - 4:15p\nCompressed/Flexible: Available\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]