Surgical Technician

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Veterans Affairs in New Orleans is seeking a Health Technician (Surgical) to support the operating room and PACU teams. The role involves meticulous sterile technique, medication awareness on the sterile field, and active participation in patient care during procedures.

Applicants must be able to identify and correct safety hazards, assist with instrument setup, and maintain aseptic practice under pressure in a busy tertiary care center.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of medications used on the sterile field: names, uses, dosages, characteristics and adverse effects.
• Ability to interact effectively with all levels of medical center staff, visitors, patients and students.
• Ability to identify and correct actual or potential safety hazards concerning infection control and equipment malfunction.

Responsibilities

• Prepare grafts, suctions, holds retractors, apply staples, prepare prosthetic items and other surgical devices.
• Set up endoscopic towers, powered equipment and accessory equipment.
• Maintain sterile technique and monitor for breaks in sterile technique with immediate correction.
• Perform instrument and sponge counts accurately for all procedures.
• Act as primary scrub for procedures and assist in implantation/setup of surgical cases.

Skills

Sterile technique

CPR

Infection control

Communication

Manual dexterity

Lifting and positioning

Job description

• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

The Health Technician (Surgical) reports to Nursing Service through the Nurse Manager Operating Room (OR)/ Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and functions as an integral part of the surgical team of a 1B Tertiary Care Medical Center.

Key Responsibilities

Thorough knowledge of appropriate name, uses of, dosages, physical characteristics and adverse effects of all medications used on the sterile field. Handles specimens correctly. Ability to interact effectively and communicate clearly and appropriately with all levels of medical center staff, visitors, patients and students.

Able to identify and/or take action to correct actual or potential safety hazards concerning the infection control and equipment malfunction when setting up complex systems. Prepared grafts, suctions, holds retractors, applies staples, prepares prosthetic items and other surgical devices during procedures. Ability to correctly perform the Heimlich maneuver and CPR. Ability to prepare/set-up endoscopic towers, powered equipment and all accessory equipment.

Ability to correctly utilize and care for all critical, semi-critical and non-critical. Performs all instrument and sponge counts correctly on all procedures. Utilizes appropriate assistive devices (i.e. lifts, transfer devices, other personnel) to promote safety of patients and staff. Functions as primary scrub for all procedures; implantation/set-up of all surgical procedures.

Implement sterile technique, independently set-up instrumentation utilizing sterile technique, maintains sterile technique. Ability to identify any breaks in sterile technique and provide immediate correction of break in technique.

Ability to actualize regulatory guidelines and practice standards into work practice Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, rotating shifts 6:30am-3:00pm, 9:00am-5:30pm, with on call and as patient needs dictates, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD07205A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Physical Requirements: Physical and mental stamina are required, the duties involve frequently working under considerable stress, tense (sometimes life-threatening) situations and with patients who are in a sedated state with loss of orientation.

Work involves long, strenuous hours of standing, stooping, bending, and stretching without a break during procedures which require intense concentration. Involves frequent lifting of instrument trays and moving of equipment/carts to position or transport handicapped or anesthetized patients. Requires strenuous physical exertion and agility. Manual dexterity and agility are required to correctly assemble, test or repair instruments.

Strain is incurred in staying alert on long cases under difficult situations. Scheduled for on-call for emergency procedures on a rotational basis, including holidays and weekends. Expected to respond, for emergencies, even when non-on-call. Expected to stay beyond shift if more than one room is running. 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. A pre-placement evaluation examination is required.

Requirements & Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $50460 – $65599/yr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-10-26.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.

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