The Surgical Technician provides assistance to the surgeons and other team members during a variety of surgical procedures and participates with the surgical team in planning and implementing complex surgical procedures/processes. This is an open continuous announcement until September 30,2025. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/30/2024. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: 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. Specialized experience includes utilizing knowledge of medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and 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: possess experience in an operating room environment preparing, organizing, and maintaining complex sterile set ups or experience via training in a CST program. 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: Work requires some physical exertion. It may involve walking, frequent bending, reaching and stretching to set up and take apart equipment; lifting and positioning patients; and carrying, pushing, or pulling moderately heavy objects, recurring physical exertion, standing for long periods of time, bending, lifting, walking, stooping, and stretching. Additionally, the work requires manual dexterity and a large degree of concentration. Duties may require above average dexterity. 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 include, but may not be 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: Monday-Friday, day shift (possible hours to include 7a-3:30p, 7a-5:30p or 9a-7:30p with on call required weekends, weeknights, holidays Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: PD92107-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.