Summary

The Surgical Technician Operating Room serves as a Surgical Technologist in Nursing - Perioperative Service at the Orlando VA Medical Center. The Surgical Technologist (ST) functions as a member of the surgical team 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. Individual Occupational Requirements Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists - speech pathologists - medical officers - and optometrists. Therefore - technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. GS-07 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 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: 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: Setting up sterile fields; determining technical factors - setting controls with required items for procedures such as air powered equipment - fiber optic equipment - laparoscopic equipment - microscopes - lasers - arthroscopy equipment - urologic equipment - recording devices - and other operating room supplies and equipment; sterilizing operations and testing to determine sterilization methods to be used; receiving and interpreting request for procedure; securing patients' confidence and cooperation; assisting surgical staff with or performing diagnostic tests and procedures; positioning patients for procedures; handling and coordinating clerical/administrative support functions; performing personal patient care; teaching patients proper health care practices; and maintaining medical records and documents test results. Previous experience in working under microscope using aseptic technique to deliver required instrumentation to physician for use in the procedure; experience and understanding of the biological physiology of disease conditions that requires surgical intervention; experience in responding to acute trauma injuries in the operating room. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-07 level. One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. Two full years of graduate education or a master's degree meets the requirements for GS-9. 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. NOTE: A transcript (unofficial or official) must be submitted if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Applications submitted without this information will not be considered. 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-07. 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. Preferred Experience: ST certification Experience highly preferred 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

• The Operating Room Surgical Technologist assist the surgeon in performing surgical procedures and manages the sterile field during the procedure
• The OR Surgical Technologist is responsible for all aspects of the technical preparation for the participation in surgical procedures
• The individual displays a broad knowledge base and proficiency related to all types of surgical procedures in specialties including but not limited to Ophthalmology - General - Plastics - GYN - Ortho - Podiatry - ENT - Thoracic and Urology
• The individual evaluates and collects all required instrumentation - equipment - positioning devices - suture material - and special devices needed for any of the multitude of surgical procedures
• Duties include but are not limited to: Possess expertise in the application of sterile and aseptic technique and combines the knowledge of human anatomy - surgical procedures - and technology to facilitate a surgeon's performance of invasive therapeutic and diagnostic procedures
• Function as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during all surgical procedures
• Select and prepare instruments - supplies and equipment - and assist operative team according to Operating Room procedures
• Adheres to principles of strict aseptic technique in preparing set-up for specific procedures
• Prepare - organize - and maintain highly complex sterile surgical set-ups
• Assists with positioning patients for specific procedures
• Report and document pertinent patient and/or supply/equipment information as it pertains to surgery
• Is able to recognize potentially hazardous situations (frayed cords) and independently takes corrective action
• Observe and respond promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipate the needs of the surgeon
• be knowledgeable of a wide variety of complex surgical procedures and possible complications
• Proper handling of surgical specimens
• Verify completeness of instruments/sponge/needle counts
• Identify unsafe or defective instruments/equipment and takes appropriate corrective actions
• Assist in positioning - preparation - and draping procedures
• Assist as needed with procedures performed in the Specialty Clinics
• Maintain proficiency in scrubbing all operative procedures within the scope of the operating room
• Transport patients - observing correct safety techniques
• Ensure proper disposal of instruments - linen - trash - needleless - sponges - and all biomedical waste
• Participates in departmental process improvements
• The work requires long periods of standing with few breaks - as well as lifting - bending - positioning patients - and some movement of cumbersome equipment
• Good body mechanics - personal stamina - and excellent powers of concentration are necessary to participate in lengthy procedures
• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday -Friday - 6:00am-3:30pm Recruitment/Relocation Incentive: May be authorized for highly qualified applicants
• Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD06342A Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation and would generally not require a pre-placement examination.