The New Mexico VA Health Care System is seeking Surgical Technicians for the Operating Room! This position is located within Nursing Service at the New Mexico VA Healthcare System. The work takes place in the Operating Room (OR). The incumbent is a member of the surgical team and provides assistance to surgeons and other healthcare team members during surgical procedures and perioperative preparation of these procesures. This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Experience in operating room scrubbing in ANY of the following surgical specialties: general, ortho & arthroscopy, cardio-thoracic, vascular & endo-vascular, ophthalmology, ENT, urology, neurology and podiatry. 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-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: applying aseptic technique in a sterile surgical field; preparing instrumentation, equipment, and 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 1 year of graduate level education that is directly related to the work of the position to be filled. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent (1) year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the (1) year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. Transcripts are required. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of the position. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationInfection ControlTechnical Competence 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. ["This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 30, 2022. Applicants will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available. Applicants will remain active for 3 months after the initial application is received and/or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USAJobs account if you would like to be made active again for possible consideration during the open period. Duties include, but are not limited to: Handles instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures. Accounts for all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure. Participates with the surgical team in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team. Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, and new OR staff in the operations of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments, and OR procedures to include the scrub role in surgical procedures. Assists the surgeon and other healthcare team members during surgical procedures. Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals. Assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure. Assists the team members in with care of the patient (positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies). Utilizes universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment. Handles all specimens appropriately. Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups. Work Schedule: Full-time, permanent compressed scheduled.\nCompressed/Flexible: Compressed tour, 10 hour days with routine call expectations to provided 24/7 access for Veterans.\nTelework: Not available.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Description/PD#: Surgical Technician (Health Technician)/PD12658A\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required."]