Serves as a member of the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/03/2022. 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. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6.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. 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. Preferred Experience: 1) Surgical Technician certification 2) Demonstrated knowledge of AORN standards. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: GS-6: Applicants must have 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Example of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: - A member of a surgical team performing assigned surgical technician duties in an Operating Room under the supervision of a nurse or surgeon and following proper safety precautions while handling surgical equipment and supplies. OR Have successfully completed one-half year of graduate education (or 9 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the position such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-06 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-06. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position. GS-07: Applicants must have 1 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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Provide assistance to the surgical team in highly complex surgical procedures. Properly handle instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures. Prepare, organize, and maintain highly complex sterile surgical setups. Observe and respond to each stage of a surgical procedure to anticipate the needs of the surgeon. Handle specimens appropriately. Reinforce teaching, and conduct training activities or instruct others in Operating Room procedures such as scrub role in surgical procedures. OR Have successfully completed (1) one full year of graduate education (or 18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the position such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques etc. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-07 level. To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-06. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Competency 1. Knowledge of surgical procedures, techniques, and materials in order to assist the surgical team during surgical procedures. Competency 2. Knowledge of safety procedures for surgical procedures. Competency 3. Ability to explain information and procedures to a variety of people. Competency 4. Ability to prepare and maintain surgical supplies and equipment. 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. 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 require regular and recurring physical exertion. Manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of who are at various stages of unconsciousness is a regular occurrence. 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 is required. The 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, while also promoting safe handling practice, limiting potential for injury. Patient sometimes are positioned in a manner which may require the surgical technologist to work in a strained position for an extended period of time to perform duties. The incumbent must frequently wear 20-30 pound lead aprons as protection from radiation during various procedures during the performance of their regular duties. Eligible applications received will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Applications will be reviewed and sent to the Hiring Manager on the following days: May 9, 2022 May 13, 2022 May 18, 2022 May 24, 2022 May 31, 2022 June 4, 2022 ["Responsible for handling instruments, supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures such as: open heart, major/minor vascular, simple/complex general surgery, orthopedic procedures including total joint arthroplasty, ophthalmology, plastic, neurosurgery, urological procedures including nephrectomy and laser lithotripsy, and otolaryngology procedure to include radical neck dissection with or without laryngectomy. Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical team members and observes and promptly responds to each stage of the surgical procedures, anticipating the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration over an extended period of time. Suggests alternative supplies/instruments if necessary due to unique unforeseen intra operative occurrences. Prepares, organizes and maintains simple to highly complex surgical fields. Appropriately manages surgical specimens. Performs sponge, needle, and instrument counts prior to the incision, before closure of all cavities, and at the termination of the operation. Assists surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, cutting sutures, preparing prosthetic devices for delivery to the sterile field, and preparing dressings. Assumes responsibility for connecting drainage devices to suction and balloon pumps as needed. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM; with periods of on-call.\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Description/PD#: Surgical Technician; PD# 1030-0\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]