This position is located in the Surgical Section of Nursing Service, under Perioperative care located at the Veterans Healthcare System in Beckley, WV. ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. In addition, applicant(s) must meet at least one of the following experience and education qualification requirements. SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-6) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. 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. Specialized experience is experience that requires application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician including providing assistance to a surgical team during surgical procedures; applying skills when preparing and maintaining the sterile field; functioning as the primary scrub person during procedures, and handling specimens appropriately. ~OR~ EDUCATION: Successful completion of a (1) full year of graduate education (or 18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques, etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed related graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Attention to Detail Eye-Hand Coordination Infection Control Standards Veteran and Customer Focus IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: Physical demands will involve providing manual assistance, in lifting, positioning, and transporting patients, majority of whom will be at different level of consciousness related to anesthesia. Duties regularly require lifting and/or moving instrument trays, equipment, medical devices, and supplies. There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, reaching, prolonged stretching, and prolonged standing in x-ray gowns to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon. Incumbent 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/. ["***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team and the registered nurse. The position falls under the Operating Room (OR) section within the nursing service. Major duties and responsibilities will include: Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, specimens, and equipment during all surgical procedures. Independently sets up the sterile field with all required items for each procedure including various necessary medical equipment. Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure. Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical set-ups. Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures. Observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time. Suggests alternative supplies/instruments if necessary due to unique unforeseen intraoperative occurrences. Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment. Assists the team members with care of the patient, i.e., transporting the patient to surgery, PACU, outpatient units and wards, or positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies. Functions as a second circulator for complex surgical procedures. The technician assists the pulmonologist during the performance of fiberoptic bronchoscopy with fine needle aspiration, bronchial brushings, and biopsy. Possesses the knowledge and skills to identify diseased or malignant tissue as related to the pulmonary mucosa of the bronchial tree for both the left and right lungs. The technician will also be responsible for the evaluation of the technical capability and potential for the application of new equipment after having prepared the standing operating procedures for its use. Handles all specimens appropriately as they pertain to the body cavity from which they were procured. In conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse (RN), performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy. Responsible for the accountability of all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure and follows OR policy in the safe handling of sharps and sponges. Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, cutting sutures, preparing prosthetic devices for delivery to the sterile field, and handling of instruments. Possesses the knowledge and skills to operate the intra-operative fluoroscopy table that is used for urological procedure to ensure that the patient receives the appropriate care as it relates to correct site, organ, and anatomical structures for the surgical patient. Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, operating room technology students, and newly hired OR staff in aseptic/sterile techniques, maintenance of the sterile field, and handling of instruments. Updates personal knowledge regarding current trends in surgical technology through continuous education courses. Performs non-technical maintenance on equipment to ensure proper operation prior to usage. Maintains surgical work area by routinely cleaning area and removing outdated/expired items. Collaborates with multiple parties to ensure the amount and type of supplies are always available. Additional clinical skills performed under minimum direct surgeon supervision include: assist the surgeon in draping the patient, assists in keeping the operative site dry, affords the surgeon the best operative exposure of the anatomy, expedites the operative procedure by anticipating the needs of the surgeon and performs other related duties as needed (i.e., shave preps, patient positioning, patient draping, and final prepping). Perform other related duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; Full - Time, 7:30am - 4:00pm, Rotating call WHEN hours DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved"]

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