You will serve as a Surgical Technician with the Nursing Service of the Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center located in Spokane, Washington. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position. Technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. 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. Specialized experience includes: assisting the surgeon during procedures by passing instruments, observing and responding promptly to each stage of the surgical procedures, handling contaminated items, maintaining quality control, operating specialty equipment per manufacturers guidelines, using universal precautions for implementing infection control policies and procedures. Examples of Specialized Experience will include: handle instruments, supplies and equipment during all surgical; utilize sterile techniques as per hospital, Operating Room, and Association of peri Operative Registered Nurses (AORN) guidelines; assist the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures, preparation of prosthesis and surgical devices and preparing sterile dressings. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-07 level. EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED): Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed one (1) year of graduate education that is directly related to the duties of the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business, secretarial or technical school, junior college, college or university. One year of full-time academic study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university, or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business, secretarial, or technical school. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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. ["Set 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. Plan and discuss each procedure with surgical professionals and assure that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure. Prepare, organize, and maintain highly complex sterile surgical setups. Utilize universal precautions and follow all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment. Assist team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies, transportation to and from the OR. Handle all specimens appropriately, including labeling, keeping organized on table, and transporting to lab. In conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse (RN), performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy. Responsible for the accountability for all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedures with sharps and sponges are handled per policy. Assist the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, cutting sutures, prepping prosthesis, and surgical devices, and prepare sterile dressings. Assist 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 to include the scrub role in surgical procedures. Collaborates with RN sub specialists to provide in-services or initiates in-services on own. Provide emotional support and comfort measures specific for each patient to alleviate concerns and fears. Functions as second circulator for complex surgical procedures. Provides breaks/ lunch for OR clerk if needed. Perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00a to 3:30p (rotating, weekend on-call required). Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD70271A Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are in 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 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. Work Conditions: Duties are performed in the operating rooms which require special OR attire with regular and recurring exposure to toxic and noxious gases such as: methylmethracrylate, peroxyacetic acid, exposure to x-rays, exposure to blood and body fluids which are often infectious, and laser beams requiring special safety precautions. Appropriate scrub attire is required, including sterile gown and gloves, surgical caps to cover incumbent's hair, and surgical mask in order to provide an aseptic environment in the operating room. The incumbent is often required to wear special attire such as a \"space helmet\" or hood used during total joint replacements. Incumbent must wear protective eyewear such as goggles or face shield to prevent inadvertent splash injuries to his or her eyes. Appropriate laser glasses must be worn when working with lasers. Incumbent must frequently wear a lead apron as protection from radiation during various procedures. The operating room can be an exceptionally stressful work environment. Good mental and emotional health is required in order to function at an optimum level."]
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.