Surgical Technician

Summary The primary purpose of the position is to provide assistance to the surgeon and other members of the team during surgical procedures. The incumbent assists in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team. He/She will have varying duties and responsibilities dependent on the needs of the direct care providers - nurses - and patient care demands. These responsibilities may include clerical support duties for a variety of processes and activities. Qualifications To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Individual Occupational Requirements: Specialized Experience: 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. 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. GRADE DETERMINATION: GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-0 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities (KSA's) 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: handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during all surgical procedures such as: thoracic - major vascular and total joint surgery - sets up a sterile field with all required items for each procedure i.e. - air powered - fiber optic - laparoscopic - arthroscopy - and urologic equipment - microscopes - 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 - prepares - organizes - and maintains highly complex surgical setups. NOTE: 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. OR Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology - surgical technology - aseptic techniques - etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. 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. Preferred experience: Hospital-based Surgical Technologist with recent scrub experience in high-volume operating rooms - actively working within the last two years. Preferred experience in Robotics and endovascular cases. Duties Duties to include but not limited to the following: Technical Support Duties: The incumbent of the position will Function as a Primary Scrub Person: Responsible for handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during all surgical procedures such as: thoracic - major vascular and total joint surgerySets up a sterile field with all required items for each procedure i.e. - air powered - fiber optic - Laparoscopic - arthroscopy - and urologic equipment - microscopes - recording devices and other operating room supplies and equipmentPlans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedurePrepares - organizes - and maintains highly complex surgical setupsObserves and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipated the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of timeUtilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens - supplies - and equipmentAssists team members with care of the patient i.e. - positioning - prepping - and obtaining suppliesls available to start emergency procedure within one hour of being called back when performing on-call dutiesHandles all specimens appropriatelyIn conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse performs sponges - sharps - and instrument counts to verify accuracyResponsible for the accountability of all surgical instruments and equipment used during the surgical procedureAssists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts - suctioning - holding retractors and cutting suturesPrepares prostheses and surgical devices during proceduresFully participates in the \"Time Out\" and other patient safety programsAssists in training students and new operating room staff in the operation of equipment - sterile technique - handling of instruments - and OR procedures to include the scrub role in surgical proceduresFunctions as a second circulator for complex surgical proceduresNon-Technical Support Duties: Maintains Environment - Equipment and Specific Supply ItemsMonitors and maintains OR area including overall cleanliness - temperature - humidity - crash cart and other emergency equipment and supply itemsEnsures cleanliness and performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctionAssesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materialsRecognizes potentially hazardous situations - i.e. - frayed cordswater on floor and takes corrective actionPut away supplies and send unused instruments to Sterile Processing ServicesClean and return any equipment - positioning supplies - etcfrom ORsClean/dust equipment that remains in the OR (i.eESU cart - tourniquet - SCDs - computer keyboard - mouse - etc.)Work Schedule: Monday thru Fridayto be discussed during the interviewPosition Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD03561A Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients - most of which are in stages of unconsciousnessThere 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 surgeonIncumbent 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.