Surgical Technician - Operating Room

Summary

The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Surgical Technician (Operating Room). The Surgical Technician will function within Perioperative, Nursing Service. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-06 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: Knowledge of highly technical instrumentation, human anatomy, and aseptic technique to prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery; Knowledge of sterile technique must include the ability to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging, storage and shelf life; Knowledge of standard precautions and know how to implement infection control policies and procedures; Knowledge of all appropriate technical names, uses, physical characteristics, function and processing procedures for the full range of surgical instrumentation, supplies and equipment. OR, Education: Successfully completed one full (1) year of graduate level education or an internship that is directly related to the work of the position. 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. OR, Have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and experience to meet total qualification requirements. Note: One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that number cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered an academic year of graduate study. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Your experience must be documented in your resume and transcripts are required. Preferred Experience: 2 years recent experience as a Surgical Technician. Experience functioning in complex surgical cases including but not limited to general surgery, GYN, orthopedics, ENT and robotics. Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing assistance in lifting and positioning patients. There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching, and prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments 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. Appropriate scrub attire is required, including sterile gown and gloves, surgical caps to cover incumbent's hair, appropriate eye protection, and surgical mask in order to provide an aseptic environment in the operating room. If incumbent is assisting with a total joint replacement, he/she is often required to wear special attire, which may be confining such as a "space helmet" or hood. Incumbent may need to wear X-Ray protective lead attire (up to 20 pounds in weight) for prolonged periods of time. May be required to wear special respirator mask in the presence of highly contagious airborne pathogens such as tuberculosis. 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. 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

"Handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during a variety of surgical procedures performed in all surgical sub specialties/procedures including general surgery, urological surgery, vascular surgery, ENT surgery, orthopedic/podiatry surgery and ophthalmologic 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.
Participating in official time out with surgical team and ensures correct site, correct procedure, correct laterality, correct patient, position and all testing results are in place, including lab and radiology results; verifies sterility and dates of implants per VHA Directive.
Planning and discussing each procedure with surgical professionals and assuring that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure.
Preparing, organizing, and maintaining highly complex sterile instrumentation and surgical setup.
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; follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment.
Assisting team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies; transportation to and from the OR.
Work Schedule: Rotate 8-hour tours variable (7:00am-3:30pm, 9:00am-5:30pm, 11:00am-7:30pm).
Overtime as required for patient care, plus on call.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician - Operating Room/ 93192-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"