Summary

The Surgical Technician position is located at the Richard L. Roudebush VAMC Operating Room. This position is within the Surgery Service. The incumbent functions at an advance level with specific and specialized training and skills required in the Surgery work setting. The Surgical Technician (ST)functions independently to provide a wide range of support to the professional nurse and physician in the Operating Room.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Under this Direct Hiring Authority - time in grade does NOT apply - even for current/former federal employees. NOTE: You MUST include qualifying specialized experience employment periods in mm/yyyy to mm/yyyy format on your resume and indicate Full-Time or Part-Time (if Part-time - must include # of hours worked per week). AND - if you have held a Government position - that position's grade level MUST be listed on your resume; Failure to include all requirements in your resume will result in disqualification. Please refer to https://www.usajobs.gov/help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/ for additional information on resume requirements. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes utilizing knowledge of medical instruments - aseptic technique to prepare and protect sterile field during surgery; exercising sterile technique to include sterilizer operations and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization - packaging - storage - and shelf life; handling medical instruments - supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures; performing proper cleaning techniques - as well as the proper handling and rotation of sterile supplies; handling contaminated items - quality control - and personal hygiene - using knowledge of universal precautions and implementing infection control policies and procedures. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Preferred Experience: 3 years of experience working in an OR setting. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Infection Control Medical Information Patient Care Technical Competence Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients - most of who are at stages of unconsciousness. There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing - walking - bending - lifting - pushing - reaching - and prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon. The ST must be dexterous in passing instruments to surgeons without compromising principles of aseptic technique and in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• Duties include - but not limited to the following: Receives requests or instructions for procedures and interprets requests or instructions for medical health care personnel
• Handles instruments - supplies - and equipment during surgical procedures such as open heart - thoracic - major vascular - neurosurgery - microsurgery - and total joint replacement surgery
• Secures patients' confidence and cooperation during procedures - explains procedures - positions patients for desired results - and cushions and shields patients as appropriate
• Administers drugs under close control
• Operates and maintains medical instruments and equipment for diagnostic and treatment procedures
• Sets up the sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as air powered equipment - fiber optic equipment - laparoscopic equipment - microscopes - lasers - arthroscopy equipment - urologic equipment - recording devices - etc.
• Observes and responds promptly to each stage of a surgical procedure - anticipating the needs of the surgeon
• Performs a range of diagnostic support duties such as taking - recording and reporting to the supervisor deviations in vital signs - taking specimens - and labeling specimens for the laboratory
• Manages administrative functions of an office
• and Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Available shifts include 7a-3:30p - 7a-5:30p -9a-7:30p with on call required weekends - weeknights - holidays Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician (OR)/PD03221A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required