The Surgical Technician (ST) is a surgical team member who assists the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The ST functions as the primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, specimens, and equipment during all surgical procedures, including but not limited to thoracic, major vascular, and endovascular surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmologic surgery, colorectal and oncological surgery, robotics, and minimally invasive surgery. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirement for Health Aid and Technician Series (0640): 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. In addition to the IOR, candidates must also meet one of the following requirements: 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. Specialized experience is defined as: Working in an operating room and setting up a sterile field with all required items for surgical procedures (i.e., air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and other operating room (OR) supplies and equipment, etc.); using proper sterilization and cleaning techniques on instruments and equipment; and assisting surgeon by performing such procedures such as skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures.**The preferred candidate would have completed Surgical Technician School or an equivalent.**OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION: At grades GS-5 and above, a portion of the education is usually directly related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of related courses are provided in the individual occupational requirements where applicable. However, agencies may require other courses if they are considered to be more related to the position to be filled. NOTE: Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. 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.OR Combination of Experience & Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an equal combination of specialized experience and graduate education. (Transcripts Required).***PLEASE 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. English Language Proficiency Requirement: No person will be appointed to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. Preference Criteria Associate Degree from an accredited school/college of Surgical Technology Three to five years working as a surgical technician You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Infection Control Medical Information Patient Care Technical Competence 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. Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting, positioning, and transporting veterans, the majority of whom will be at a different level of consciousness related to anesthesia. Duties regularly require lifting and/or moving instrument trays, equipment, medical devices, and supplies. There are extended 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. 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/. ["To receive consideration for vacancies, applicants must submit complete applications prior to the established cut-off dates. An initial cut-off will take place on August 11, 2023 and there will be bi-weekly cut-offs until the final cut-off. Final cut-off for application will be October 27, 2023. *This job announcement will close when we have filled all the vacancies which may be sooner than the closing date.* The Lexington VA Health Care System (LVAHCS) is a fully accredited, two-division, tertiary care health care system with an operating bed complement of 199 hospital beds. The Troy Bowling Campus, located adjacent to the University of Kentucky Medical Center, offers specialty outpatient care, inpatient acute medical, neurological, surgical, and psychiatric care. The Franklin R. Sousley Campus has a Community Living Center and two cottages with hospice and respite services, primary care, home-based primary care, prosthetics, women's health, optometry, podiatry, massage therapy and chiropractic, mental health, substance abuse treatment, acute rehabilitation and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder residential rehabilitation treatment. The health care system also operates four VA community clinics in Somerset, Morehead, Hazard, and Berea, KY. Lexington VAHCS is part of the VA MidSouth Healthcare Network, which consists of five medical centers in Kentucky and Tennessee. Major duties consist of the following: Sets up the sterile field with all required items for each procedure, such as robotic equipment, air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and other operating room supplies and equipment. Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and ensures that all supplies and equipment are available before the surgical procedure. Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical set-ups. Observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining mental focus for extended periods. Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment. Assists the team members with the care of the veteran, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies. Handles all specimens appropriately. In conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse (RN), performs soft goods, sharps, and instrument counts to prevent retention of surgical items and 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, and cutting sutures. Prepares prostheses and surgical devices during operations and calibrates instruments/equipment in the sterile field. 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, including the scrub role in surgical procedures. Functions as a runner for complex surgical procedures under the direct supervision of an RN. Assists circulating nurse with veteran care during each phase of perioperative interventions, such as gathering equipment and supplies, opening sterile items, setting up the surgical field, veteran transferring and positioning, providing comfort measures, monitoring and maintaining sterility pre- and intra-operatively, staying inside the OR from the time of sterile field set-up to the time of veteran transfer out of the OR to ensure the integrity of the sterile environment, and participating in veteran care activities related to induction of and emerging from anesthesia. Functions as laser technician (operator) within the operating room environment monitoring compliance with the organization's policy and procedures, supervising usage and safety, documenting treatment parameters, and reporting any adverse outcomes to Nurse Manager and Laser Safety Officer. Maintains Equipment and Work Areas Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions. Maintains OR area. Assesses equipment needs and maintains an adequate stock of supplies and materials. Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g., frayed cords and water on the floor) and takes corrective action. Collaborates with engineering and biomedical services, promoting the use and maintenance of VA property safely that preserves the equipment. Performs other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Day tour, some on call is required Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/ PD31089A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized for a highly qualified candidate"]
The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,298 health care facilities, including 171 medical centers and 1,113 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
