Summary

This position is located at the Tampa VA Healthcare System - within the Nursing/Surgery Service Line. The Health Technician is a member of the surgical team responsible for assisting the surgeon within the operating room environment. The position is an integral team member in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgeon. The Health Technician is responsible for all aspects of the technical preparation and participation in surgical procedures.

Qualifications

English Language Proficiency Requirement: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position. ~AND~ In addition to the English Language - to qualify for this position at the GS-8 level - you must meet one of the following requirements: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-7) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge - skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Health Technician - Surgical Technician - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge - methods and techniques of the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: Works as a surgical technician in general - urology - podiatry - plastic - gynecology - and some orthopedic surgeries. Uses knowledge of technical medical instruments - human anatomy - physiology - and aseptic technique to prepare and protect a sterile field during surgery; possessing knowledge of pathology care and handling of specimens correctly; utilizing proper patient positioning skill to position the patient depending on the type of procedure; handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during surgical procedures; selecting the correct instruments for a procedure - anticipating the needs of the surgeon during the procedure - and recognizing and responding to a variety of critical situations appropriately. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed at least one and one-half (1 1/2) years of graduate level education with course work or an internship that is directly related to the work of the Health Technician - Surgical Technician position. 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. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience - as described above - may be used to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the Health Technician - Surgical Technician position. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Interpersonal Skills Teamwork Technical Competence Technology Management IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. 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 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. Duties are performed in the operating rooms which require special OR attire with regular and recurring exposure to toxic and noxious gases such as: methylmethracrylate - exposure to x-rays - and pure oxygen - exposure to blood and body fluids which are often infectious - and laser beams requiring special safety precautions. Appropriate scrub attire is required - including sterile gown and gloves - surgical caps to cover the Technician's hair - and surgical mask in order to provide aseptic special attire such as a "space helmet" or hood used during total joint replacements. The Technician must wear protective eyewear such as goggles or face shield to prevent inadvertent splash injuries to his or her eyes. Appropriate laser glasses must be worn when working with lasers. The Technician must frequently wear a 20-30 pound lead apron as protections from radiation during various procedures. Required personal protective equipment is provided by the facility. The operating room work environment is complex - intense and fast paced. Good mental and emotional health is required in order to function at an optimum level. 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

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The major duties include but are not limited to: Prepares and maintains the surgical area
• Maintains proficiency in scrubbing for all operative procedures within the scope of the operating room responsible for handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during all surgical procedures
• Assists the team members with care of the patient - i.e. - positioning - prepping - and obtaining supplies
• Sets up sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as air-powered equipment - fiber optic equipment - laparoscopic equipment - microscopes - lasers - arthroscopy equipment - urologic equipment - recording devices - robotic equipment - and other operating room supplies and equipment
• 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
• Assists and anticipate the surgeon's needs by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts - suctioning - holding retractors - applying skin staples - and cutting sutures
• Prepares prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures
• 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
• Accounts for all surgical instruments and equipment during the 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 the scrub role in surgical procedures
• Assist in positioning - preparation - and draping procedure
• Performs simple wound closure as directed by the surgeon
• Handles all specimens appropriately to ensure accurate identification/maintenance of specimens
• Cleans instruments - equipment - and room as appropriate when procedure is completed
• Ensures proper disposal of instruments - linen - trash - needles - sponges - and all biomedical waste
• Assists in the implementation and utilization of the Generic Inventory Package to maintain adequate surgical supplies
• Assists with preparing daily surgery schedules - ordering case carts - case scheduling duties - telephone calls - entering work orders - and monitoring the OR Front Desk - updating physician preference cards
• Functions as an expert resource for equipment set-up - operation - and maintenance
• Troubleshoots equipment as needed
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday
• 6:30am-5:00pm or 8:30am-7:00pm - depending on the needs of the service
• Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Designated Drug-Testing Position: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA
• Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.