Surgical Technician

This position is within the Surgical Care Line at Puget Sound VA Health Care System located in Seattle Washington. The Surgical Scrub Technician (SST) provides patient care and assistance to the Registered Nurse (RN) and surgeons and is under the direct supervision of an RN. The SST is responsible for preparation of the operating room for a variety of simple to major surgical procedures with a thorough knowledge of sets of instruments equipment and supplies.

Major duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Serves as a member of the surgical team in the OR by performing scrub and other support services for simple and major cases.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure.
• Anticipates the surgeons needs for instruments equipment and supplies via surgeons case preference cards training as a surgical technician and familiarity with hospital and OR policies and procedures.
• Handles instruments supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures such as open heart thoracic major vascular neurosurgery microsurgery total joint procedures and robotic surgery.
• Passes instruments and observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedures and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time.
• Utilizes sterile techniques as per hospital OR and AORN guidelines.
• Follows directions for performing OR policy for sponge needle and instrument count.
• Follows infection control policies and procedures.
• Maintains cares and labels surgical specimens.
• Assists the RN on care of the patient (i.e. positioning prepping as needed).
• Assists 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.
• Follows infection control policies and procedures.
• Recognizes and helps initiate actions during emergency situations including cardiopulmonary resuscitation when appropriate.
• Stocking replenishing and preparing supplies and equipment for use.
• Assists other members of the team with room clean up in readiness for next patient.
• Assists the RN with receiving surgical patients into the OR and ensuring safety of the patient at all times.
• Promptly reports any change in the patients condition to the RN.
• Assists in training residents medical students nursing students surgical technologist students and new operating room staff in the operation of equipment sterile technique handling of instruments and OR procedures.
• Provides emotional support and comfort measures specific for each patient to alleviate concerns and fears
• Properly answers telephone calls and directs call to the appropriate person.
• Generating and maintaining case cart and preference card lists.
• Working with vendors and support personnel for procurement of specific instrumentation needed for a case.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:00am to 3:30pm On-call status required
Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD40972A
Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Physical Requirements:Work involves potentially extended periods of standing walking and reaching. Trays of instruments and stock weighing as much as 25 pounds must be lifted and carried short distance and wearing x-ray aprons. The SST must be able to use both hands to handle or feel objects with dexterity and strength to manipulate delicate instruments and equipment. The SST must have adequate hearing and speech to effectively communicate with other personnel and patients. Carts on rollers must be transported within the OR and from department to department within the hospital. The SST assists with transferring and transporting patients most of which are in stages of unconsciousness. The volume and rapid pace of work interruptions and emergency nature of some tasks may cause high levels of stress for the employee.

Work Environment: The majority of work is performed in the OR. The SST must wear hospital supplied surgical scrubs hair cover and eye protection while on duty in the OR. There is the potential for frequent exposure to toxic gases hazardous chemicals exposure blood and body fluids laser beams requiring special safety precautions radiation air-powered equipment and a variety of electrical equipment that requires special safety precautions. Work potentially involves the wearing of attire such as a hood in total joint replacements. The SST in this position is regularly exposed to infectious diseases. Occasionally patients undergoing treatment can be verbally or physically abusive particularly those suffering from mental illness.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• All 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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• 5 CFR 330.502 - General restriction on movement after competitive appointment applies.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public determining if your employment advances the public interest we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification in writing that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

English Language Proficiency: Individuals serving in direct patient care positions must be proficient in both spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): 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 additional to the IOR qualified applicants must also meet the GS7 Qualifications:

Qualifications GS 7:

• Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge skills and abilities (KSAs) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to: Prepare organize and maintain highly complex sterile surgical setups; Follow all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens supplies and equipment; Plans and discuss each procedure with surgical professionals to determine proper positioning and assurance of all supplies/equipment are available; Assist surgical team with patient positioning and setting up the operative field; Monitor and maintain sterile practice throughout surgical procedure. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title duties month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week.

OR

• Education: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the surgical technician position. 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.

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.