The Surgical Technician (ST) is a member of the surgical team and participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgeon and registered nurse; possesses expertise in theory and application of sterile and aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy, surgical procedures and implementation tools and technologies to facilitate a surgeons performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.

Duties

- Functions as a primary scrub person on all surgical procedures, handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures such as thoracic, vascular, orthopedic, EENT, etc. - Under the supervision o the RN, assists in circulating functions, i.e., performing instrument and sponge counts and accounting for surgical instruments and equipment during surgical procedures and gathers and communicates technical data to the RN - Practices principals of sterile techniques, preparing instrumentations independently and without direct supervision, utilizing aseptic techniques - Observes, identifies, and immediately corrects a break in sterile techniques by any member of the operating team, e.g., interacts with numerous health care personnel and all levels of students, including those who have no knowledge of aseptic/ sterile techniques) - Sets up sterile field with all required items, i.e. air-powered, endoscopic, laparoscopic, arthroscopic, urologic equipment, microscopes, drills, staplers, etc - May teach or assist in training aseptic technique to other service techs (radiology), dental, SPD - Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures; handles specimens appropriately - Anticipates, detects, and responds to deviations from normal in patients, which can result in an emergent situation; 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 - Performs patient care as directed/assigned (i.e., patients according to protocol); transports patients to and from the Operating Room using safe transport techniques; Provides basic nursing care for patients undergoing procedures while maintaining patients dignity and privacy - Transports patients pre-operatively and post-operatively and procedure needed supplies, drugs, blood, reports and equipment - Communicates and interacts appropriately with adults, geriatric patients and visitors displaying courteous, compassionate, caring, and respectful behavior when interacting with all others (staff, students, etc.) -Remain calm during stressful situations and utilizes proper channels of communication, i.e., follows chain of command - Participates in the preoperative role by evaluating the needs of the surgical patient and assisting in patient positioning and preparation of specialized support equipment necessary for the most complex surgical procedure - Anticipates, recognizes, and resolves unfamiliar situations or deviations from standard protocol, policies, procedures, (e.g., completed informed consent, availability of specific equipment, adjusting from on hip replacement systems that has 300 components to another system with 400 or more components) - Identifies and /or takes action to correct actual or potential safety hazard concerning infection control, equipment malfunction, (e.g., when setting up complex computerized systems such as endoscopy tower), remaining cognizant of deviations that could be potentially hazardous to the patient - Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical set-ups - Actively participates with RN in developing a plan to meet the needs and expectations fo the various surgical teams - Demonstrates self-composure and effective interpersonal skills, when relating/communicating with divers personalities, difficult situations, etc. Plans and discusses surgical procedures with the surgical team and ensures all needed supplies and equipment are available - Identifies, initiates, and implements new preference cards/ new Case Care Systems, working independently with SPD, following policies and procedures, (e.g., when new procedures are performed personnel are able to project possible equipment , specialty instruments that might be utilized and are able to assimilate that knowledge and set up case carts, which entails identifying expendable soft goods, instrument sets, technological support, etc.) - Utilizes appropriate assistive devices (i.e., lifts, transfer devices, other personnel) to promote safety of patients and personnel; assumes responsibility for unit preventive maintenance by cleaning, maintaining, and reporting malfunctions in equipment, workstations, and patient care areas to the registered nurse Work Schedule:7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD07661A

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/30/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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 provided you with the particular knowledge, skills and ability to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician. Specialized experience is experience assisting a surgical team with/during surgical procedures. Examples of specialized experience include: scrubbing for/during surgeries; preparing patients for surgery; setting up equipment and surgical instrumentation; preparing sterile surgical set-ups; handling instruments, supplies and/or equipment during surgical procedures; anticipating the needs of the surgeon and responding promptly; performing sponge and instrument counts; and exercising accountability of all surgical instruments and equipment during surgical procedure. NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required only if it is directly related to the work of the position (Surgical Technician). One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for this level. An equivalent combination of experience and education as described above may be used to qualify. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Critical ThinkingCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Developing OthersFlexibilityInfection ControlProblem SolvingSpecimen Collection 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. Preferred Experience: Certification through AST Preferred, but not required. Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are stages of unconsciousness. There are extensive 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 .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/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center One Freedom Way Augusta, GA 30901 US
• Name: Marques Entzminger
• Email: [email protected]