Health Technician-Surgical

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

Works as a surgical technician in general, urology, podiatry, plastic, gynecology, and some orthopedic surgeries
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Preparation and maintenance of the surgical area.
• Maintains proficiency in scrubbing for all operative procedures within the scope of the operating room responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures.
• Assists the team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies.
• Sets 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, robotic equipment, 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.
• Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups.
• Assists and anticipate the surgeon's needs by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures.
• Prepares prosthesis and surgical devices during 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.
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment.
• Responsible for the accountability for all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure.
• 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.
• Assist in positioning, preparation, and draping procedure.
• Performs simple wound closure as directed by the surgeon.
• Handles all specimens appropriately to ensure accurate identification/maintenance of specimens.
• Cleans instruments, equipment, and room as appropriate when procedure is completed. Ensures proper disposal of instruments, linen, trash, needles, sponges, and all biomedical waste.
• Assists in the implementation and utilization of the Generic Inventory Package to maintain adequate surgical supplies.
• Assists with preparing daily surgery schedules, ordering case carts, case scheduling duties, telephone calls, entering work orders, and monitoring the OR Front Desk, updating physician preference cards.
• Functions as an expert resource for equipment set-up, operation, and maintenance. Troubleshoots equipment as needed.
• Preforms other duties assigned

Work Schedule: 8:30am-7:00pm, Monday-Friday, variable as area needs.
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Designated Drug-Testing Position: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Starting at $66,850 Per Year (GS 8)