This position is located at the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center (JEVA VAMC), Altoona, within Patient Care Service. The Surgical Technician is an integral part of the Operating Room (OR) healthcare team. The Surgical Technician works and functions under the guidance and supervision of the nursing and medical staff. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-6 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-5 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: OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-6 level. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-6 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-6. 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. There is no educational substitution for the GS-6 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. ["Duties and Responsibilities of the Surgical Technician include but are not limited to: Donning OR attire and personal protective equipment (PPE) Gathers, checks, and opens supplies and equipment needed for the surgical procedure. Performs the surgical scrub, and donning gown and gloves. Set up the sterile back table and Mayo stand with instruments, supplies, equipment, and medications/solutions needed for the procedure. Performs initial instruments, sharps and sponge counts with the circulator Assists the team members with gowning and gloving. Assists with draping the patient and establishing the sterile field. participates in the surgical site and patient verification during the \"time out\" procedure. Secures tubing, cords and other sterile accessories. Intraoperative Duties are as follows: Prepares and anticipates additional instrumentations, equipment and supplies for usage during the procedure. Anticipates the needs of the surgeon by passing instruments and supplies to surgeon during procedure. Measures and passes medications, hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions utilized during the surgical procedure. Holds retractors or instruments ad directed by the surgeon. Sponges or suctions the operative site. Applies electrocautery to clamps or forceps on bleeders. Cuts suture material as directed by the surgeon. Coordinates the camera or changes out robotic arm/instruments during endoscopic surgery as directed by the surgeon. Maintains highest standard of sterile technique during the procedure. Performs additional counts as necessary. Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices. Prepares and passes off specimen(s) as appropriate. Cleans and prepares instruments for terminal sterilization. Assists in prepping the OR for the next patient. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.\nPosition Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/ 01473A\nPhysical Requirements: The work is usually physically demanding. Long periods of time may elapse without relief when the Surgical Technician is called in to staff an emergency OR procedure. In these cases, the Surgical Technician is expected to stand and maintain a sterile environment for periods of up to six hours. Moving and lifting of patients is usually required. Moving, lifting, pulling, pushing heavy OR equipment is common in every case. Transporting of patients in orthopedic beds by the Surgical Technician alone may be required 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."]