Summary

The Surgical Technician (ST) is a member of the surgical team at the Beckley Department of Veteran Affairs and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 03/24/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5 . The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: applying aseptic technique in a sterile surgical field; preparing instrumentation - equipment - supplies in advance of surgical procedures; scrubbing for surgical procedures; preparing operating room suites for procedures; knowledge of human body structure and function; anticipating the needs of the surgeon; assisting with minor surgical procedures; maintaining inventories of medical instruments - supplies - and equipment; and sterilizing instruments. Experience must be documented in your resume. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed on full (1) year of graduate level education or an internship that is directly related to the work of the position. (Transcripts Required) Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience. OR - Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond . You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Eye-Hand Coordination Infection Control Standards 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; 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: 3 years surgical technician experience. Recent 1-2 years surgical technician experience 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. Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients - most of who are at 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. The Surgical Technician 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.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/.

Duties

• Duties may include but are not limited to: Functions as primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during all surgical procedures
• Sets up sterile field with all required items for each procedure
• 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
• 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
• Assist team members with the care of patient
• Performs sponge and instrument count for accuracy
• Responsible for the accountability for all surgical instruments and equipment during 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 scrub role in surgical procedure
• Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions
• Maintains OR area
• Monitors front OR desk and handles OR phone calls - as assigned
• Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations
• Provides guidance and support to Nursing Assistants - other Surgical Technicians (Operating Room Nursing Assistants) - and/or any other novice scrub support staff
• Work Schedule: Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm with rotation of off tour call include weekends/holidays
• Compressed/Flexible: May Be available Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD240430 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized