Surgical Technician

Summary

The Health Technician - Surgical Technician is a member of the surgical team and assists the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the Chief of Surgery and Surgical Team.

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. An Individual Occupational Requirement must be met by all applicants applying for GS 4 and above:
All applicants for the Surgical Technician - GS-0640-07 must meet this Individual Occupation Requirement (IOR) for further consideration:
Specialized Experience (for positions GS-04 and above):
Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists - speech pathologists - medical officers - and optometrists. Therefore - technician experience is experience that requires application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. In addition to the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) - for GS-07 - all applicants must meet 1 year of creditable - specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge - skills - abilities - and other characteristics in or related to the work of this position - equivalent to at least the next lower grade level - GS-06.

Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to providing assistance to a surgical team during surgical procedures; utilizing knowledge of highly technical medical instruments - human anatomy and aseptic technique to prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery; functioning as primary scrub person handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during all surgical procedures; preparing - organizing - and maintaining highly complex sterile surgical set-up;

observing and responding to each state of a surgical procedure to anticipate the needs of the surgeon; handling specimens appropriately - cleaning and decontaminating instruments before and after procedures.

Note:

Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience - as indicated - are not required by this standard to have general experience - education above the high school level - or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements; OR - 1 full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-07. Courses must be directly related to the position.

Note:

1 year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If this information cannot be obtained from the school - 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study. When substituting education for specialized experience - a transcript (s) must submitted with the application packet.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g.

- Peace Corps - Ameri Corps) 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.

• Major duties include but are not limited to:
  Responsible for handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during a variety of surgical procedures performed in all surgical sub-specialties/procedures
• includes general surgery - urological surgery - vascular surgery - ENT surgery - orthopedic/podiatry surgery and ophthalmological surgery
• Sets-up sterile field with required items for each procedure
• Participates in official time out with surgical team and ensures correct site - correct procedure - correct laterality - correct patient - position - and all testing results are in place
• verifies sterility and dates of implants per Veterans' Health Administration (VHA) Directive
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure
• Observes and responds promptly to each state of surgical procedure and anticipates needs of the surgeon
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures
• Assists team members with care of the patient
• Handles all specimens appropriately
• Training Assists in training residents - medical students - nursing students - operating room technology students and new Operating Room (OR) staff in the operation of equipment - sterile technique - handling of instruments - and OR procedures
• Other OR/Surgical Duties:
  Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment
• Maintains safe/clean work environment
• Provides patient information to Registered Nurse (RN)/Anesthesia Team…