The Surgical Technician position is located at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, Tennessee. The Surgical Technician is a member of the operating room (OR) surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team in planning and implementing complex procedures. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement for Health Aid and Technician Series (0640): 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 required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. In addition to the IOR, candidates must also meet one of the following requirements: 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. Qualifying specialized experience includes: Knowledge of highly technical medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and aseptic technique to prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery. Knowledge of sterile technique to include sterilizer operation and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging, storage, and shelf life. Knowledge of a wide variety of complex surgical procedures and possible complications in order to prepare for the procedure. Knowledge of pathology care and handling of specimens correctly are essential for the prevention of damage to or loss of specimens and eventual diagnosis. Knowledge of operation and function of all surgical instruments and equipment, testing procedures to assure all equipment works, and proper postoperative decontamination procedures. Advanced knowledge of medical terminology to be able to understand written requests and provide proper documentation of procedures. OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equal combination of specialized experience and graduate education. (RESUME AND TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). PLEASE 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Infection Control Patient Care Technical Preferred Experience: Candidate possess 2 years surgical technician and cardiothoracic surgery experience. Basic Life Support (BLS) is required and Certified Surgical Technician preferred for this position. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-7. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. ["The Surgical Technician functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures. This position will be located in the Operating Room (OR), which performs surgical procedures including general surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, cardiothoracic, vascular, podiatry, plastic surgery, orthopedics, urology, neurosurgery, etc. The incumbent's duties include but are not limited to: Sets up sterile field with all required items for each procedure. Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals. Assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure according to the surgeon's preference cards. Maintains a high level of concentration for an extended period of time. Assists the team members in the care of patients. Assist the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures. Prepare prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures. Maintains operating room area. Maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials. Recognize potentially hazardous situation and takes corrective action. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday (0645 - 315p or 0645 - 515p) Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD50163A Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are 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 surgeons without compromising principles of aseptic technique and in manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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