Summary

Health Technician (Surgical Technician) is a member of the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. Participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 02/24/2025. You may qualify based on your experience as described below: Individual Occupational Requirement: 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: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: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 must include sterilizer operations and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization - packaging - storage and shelf life; knowledge of a wide variety of complex surgical and endoscopic procedures and possible complications in order to prepare for the procedure - to anticipate the needs of the surgical and endoscopic team - to respond with speed and accuracy - and to report observations and immediate procedural needs to the RN circulator; knowledge of anatomy - physiology and protocol to select the correct instruments for a procedure anticipating the needs of the surgeon during the procedure and on a regular and recurring basis recognize and respond to a variety of critical situations - including emergency and life threatening conditions; technical knowledge on the use and effects of anesthesia in order to recognize the hazards of anesthetic agents and to recognize and respond to adverse conditions during the course of the procedure; know how to prepare instruments for gas and steam sterilization; knowledge of proper patient positioning depending on the types of procedures - be able to provide emotional support to patients - and be able to assist anesthesia providers when implanting pain control devices; must possess advanced knowledge of medical terminology to be able to understand written and verbal requests of procedures and knowledge of proper patient positioning depending on the types of procedures - be able to provide emotional support to patients and be able to assist anesthesia providers when implanting pain control devices and must possess advanced knowledge of medical terminology to be able to understand written and verbal requests of procedures. 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

• Relocation or Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for a highly qualified individual
• Duties include - but are not limited to: Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments - supplies and equipment during all surgical and endoscopic procedures such as: thoracic - oncology - laparoscopic - podiatry - gynecology - urology and total joint replacement surgery Setting up 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 and other operating room supplies and equipment Planning and discussing each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure Preparing - organizing and maintaining highly complex sterile surgical setups Observing and responding promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipating the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time Utilizing universal precautions and following all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens - supplies and equipment Handling all specimens appropriately Functioning as second circulator for complex surgical procedures Maintains Equipment and Work Areas Performing non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions Maintaining OR area Recognizing potentially hazardous situations ( e.g. - frayed cords - water on floor) and takes corrective action Provides Guidance/Supervision Providing guidance and support to Nursing Assistants and other Surgical Technicians (Operating Room Nursing Assistants) Supervising volunteers - aides - non-surgical team members - students and other personnel Other Duties Assisting surgical team members
• in quality improvement activities Work Schedule: Fulltime - Monday thru Friday 7:00 a.m
• to 3:30 p.m. - plus after hours and weekend on call Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Surgical Technician) - Recruitment/Relocation Incentive Authorized/PD504-2085-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Relocation Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual: Relocation incentives may be authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksites & physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive - it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate
• Recruitment Incentive may be authorized for a Highly Qualified Individual: Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time - part time or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Bargaining Unit position