Surgical Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Las Vegas (NV); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Surgical Technician to support the surgeon and operating room team during procedures.

You will assist in planning and implementing complex surgeries under supervision, and perform clerical support where needed to support care delivery. Key responsibilities include maintaining sterile fields, preparing instruments, and coordinating supplies for thoracic, vascular, and joint procedures.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Primary Scrub Person handling instruments and equipment.
• Set up sterile field with required instruments for each procedure.
• Discuss procedures with surgical staff and ensure supplies are available.
• Prepare, organize, and maintain highly complex surgical setups.
• Assist in patient care such as positioning and prepping.
• Maintain infection control policies and universal precautions.
• Assist in training students and new OR staff.
• Participate in Time Out and patient safety programs.

Job description

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.

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 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
• Observes 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 time
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens - supplies - and equipment
• Assists team members with care of the patient i.e. - positioning - prepping - and obtaining supplies
• ls available to start emergency procedure within one hour of being called back when performing on-call duties
• Handles all specimens appropriately
• In conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse performs sponges - sharps - and instrument counts to verify accuracy
• Responsible for the accountability of all surgical instruments and equipment used 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 procedures
• Fully participates in the \"Time Out\" and other patient safety programs
• Assists 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 procedures
• Functions as a second circulator for complex surgical procedures
• Non-Technical Support Duties: Maintains Environment - Equipment and Specific Supply Items
• Monitors and maintains OR area including overall cleanliness - temperature - humidity - crash cart and other emergency equipment and supply items
• Ensures cleanliness and performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunction
• Assesss equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations - i.e. - frayed cords
• water on floor and takes corrective action
• Put away supplies and send unused instruments to Sterile Processing Services
• Clean and return any equipment - positioning supplies - etc
• from ORs
• Clean/dust equipment that remains in the OR (i.e
• ESU cart - tourniquet - SCDs - computer keyboard - mouse - etc.)
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday
• to be discussed during the interview
• Position 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 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.