Summary

The Surgical Technician is assigned to the Surgical/Specialty Care Service Line - VA Health Care System - West Palm Beach - FL. The Surgical Technician functions independently to provide a wide range of support to the professional nurse and physician in the Operating Room. The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team.

Qualifications

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level - you must meet English Language Proficiency and one of the following: 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 you the particular knowledge - skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician. 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 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. ~OR~ SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): 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 such as anatomy and physiology - surgical technology - aseptic techniques - etc. This 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. ~OR~ COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience - as described above - which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience must be clearly indicated in your resume. Preferred Experience: Certified Surgical Technologist (CST or TS-C) with an accredited Associate Degree - or completion of a recognized surgical technician program. Minimum of 3 years of hands-on surgical technology experience (1-3 years of hospital experience strongly preferred) Demonstrated proficiency with robotic platforms - including MAKO and DaVinci systems. Clinical experience across multiple service lines such as ophthalmology - endovascular procedures - and orthopedics. 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/. Physical Requirements: Duties require long periods of standing - walking - stooping and/or bending. Occasional lifting and carrying of moderately heavy objects - including patient transfer assistance at the beginning and end of case. Incumbent must be able to provide proper surgical visualization by holding retractors for extended periods of time often in strained or awkward positions. 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. Incumbent must also be able to work under the pressure of emergent conditions - tight schedules - and a constant changing schedule due to emergencies.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include but are not limited to: Provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures
• Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments - supplies and equipment
• Prepares - organizes and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical team to ensure all supplies and equipment are available prior to surgical procedures
• Observes and responds 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
• Provides guidance and support to professional staff during surgical procedures
• Understands the proper procedure and safety precautions for disinfecting surgical instruments
• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions
• Demonstrates outstanding aseptic technique and monitors sterile field to protect against breaks in sterile technique
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations and takes corrective action
• Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials
• Handles specimens appropriately - participates with circulating RN with two-person verification of accurate specimen labeling and confirmation of correct patient identification
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Full time - Monday - Friday - 7:00am - 3:30pm on call nights - weekends - and holidays
• Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants
• Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved