The Surgical Technician (ST) is a member of the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures, to include General Surgery, Orthopedics, Urology, Podiatry and Gynecology at the Fayetteville Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). The ST also assists the surgeons in outpatient clinics, prepares information regarding inpatient/outpatient procedures and ambulatory surgeries in addition to operating room surgical procedures.

Duties

MAJOR DUTIES Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures such as: general surgery, vascular, urology, gynecology, podiatry, ophthalmology, and major orthopedic surgery, i.e., total joint replacement. Sets up sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and other operating room supplies and equipment. Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure and according to the surgeon's preference cards. Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups. 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. Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment. Assists the team members with care of the patients, i.e., positioning, prepping and obtaining supplies. Handles all specimens appropriately. In conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse (RN), performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy. Responsible for the accountability of all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure. Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures. Prepares prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures. Assists 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. Functions as support personnel for complex surgical procedures. Maintains equipment performing non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions. Maintains OR area. Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials. Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g., frayed cords, water on floor) and takes corrective action. Provides guidance and support to Nursing Assistants and other Surgical Technicians. Monitors volunteers, aides, non-surgical team members, students, and other personnel. Assists surgical team members in quality improvement activities. Updates personal knowledge regarding current trends in surgical technology through continuing education courses. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 0715-1545, 0800-1630 Monday through Friday Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD079510 Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are stages of unconsciousness. There are 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.

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by 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 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. Specialized experience includes: experience as a first responder to emergent situations, experience with extracting, assisting, moving , lifting, transferring and transporting patients, experience in obtaining and documenting patient's vital signs, experience in recognizing emergency situations and episodes of patient deterioration and responding appropriately, experience in utilizing S-BAR format to verbally report and/or document, and experience in venipuncture and collection of specimens. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Graduate education or an internship that meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. 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 information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (*Transcripts required). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Minimum Qualifications for GS-6: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-5.Minimum Qualifications for GS-7: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least GS-6.Specialized Experience Defined for GS-6: A working knowledge of the methods, techniques and practices appropriate to medical technology and their practical application to Intermediate Care Technician work. Specialized Experience Defined for GS-7: A thorough understanding and extensive knowledge of the methods, techniques and practices appropriate to medical technology and their practical application to Intermediate Care Technician work. The ability to work independently of direct supervision on-call and the evening, night shifts and/or on the weekends. 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.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Contacts

• Address Fayetteville NC VA Medical Center 2300 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, NC 28301 US
• Name: Chauntell Farmer
• Phone: 9192860411 X177838
• Email: [email protected]