Surgical Technician

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Set up sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as electric/battery powered equipment ceiling mounted booms Neptune suction Phaco fiber optic equipment laparoscopic equipment microscope arthroscopy equipment urologic equipment recording devices and other related operating room supplies and equipment.
• Plan and discuss each procedure with assigned surgical team and ensures all supplies and equipment are available prior to the start of the surgical procedure.
• Prepare organize and maintain complex sterile surgical set-ups. Ensures all sterile wrap/packaging have no holes/tears/breaks in packaging integrity. Visualizing chemical indicators have turned.
• Observe and respond 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.
• Utilize standard precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens supplies and equipment.
• Handles specimens appropriately participates with circulating RN with two-person verification of accurate specimen labeling and confirmation of correct patient identification.
• Actively participates in Briefing Time out and De-briefing process.
• Performs sponge sharps and instrument (when applicable) counts with circulating registered nurse.
• Demonstrates outstanding aseptic technique and monitors sterile field to protect against breaks in sterile technique. Maintains clean and safe operating room work area.
• Knowledge of anatomy and physiology such as medical terminology safe patient handling and medical conditions in respect to standard perioperative care.
• Knowledge of the correct use of invasive instrumentation and equipment specific to procedures performed in operating room.
• Skill/flexibility to adjust to new surgical subspecialties and adapt to associated challenges. This may include learning to work with highly sensitive surgical instruments using prescriptive surgical steps.

Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

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

Certification Requirement: Must be CST or TS-C certified.

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 (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 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
Individual Occupational Requirements: 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 addition to the IOR you may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Function as a primary scrub person handling instruments supplies specimens prosthetic items and equipment for surgical procedures within assigned room(s) and patients. Maintain a neat and orderly sterile field provides an adequate hand-off report to relief personnel. Demonstrate a positive encouraging helpful attitude. Assist in meeting OR metrics. Protect information from unauthorized release loss alteration or deletion following applicable regulations and instructions in the computer access agreement.

Preferred Experience:

• Associates Degree.
• Minimum 3 years experience or graduate of surgical technician program.
• Service experience: Robot (MAKO and DaVinci) ophthalmology endovascular and orthopedics.