Summary

This position is located in the VA Ann Arbor Health System Operating Room Suite. The position is within the Surgery Service. The incumbent functions at an advanced level with specific and specialized training and skills required in the Surgery work setting. The Surgical Technician functions independently to provide a wide range of support to the professional nurse and physician in the Operating Room. Participates with surgical team in planning and implementing complex procedures.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. INDIVIDUAL OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENT (IOR): An IOR is a basic requirement that must be met in order to qualify for entry into this job series - and it is something that can't be waived. To qualify for the GS-0640 occupational series - applicants MUST possess the following: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Technician experience is experience that requires 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: Sets up and maintains sterile field and functions as first scrub handing instruments and supplies to surgeon during procedure. Prepares - organizes - and maintains highly complex sterile surgical set-ups. In conjunction with the circulating nurse - performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy. He/she is responsible for the accountability of all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure. Opens sterile items and arranges surgical area and equipment for procedure performance Prepare skin grafts - suctioning - holding retractors - applying skin staples - cutting sutures and preparing prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures. 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. 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. 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: At least one year of surgical technician experience; AST Certification preferred SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 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

• Major Duties: The Surgical Technician performs the following major duties but not limited to: Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments - supplies - and equipment during all surgical procedures performed in: Cardiac - Peripheral Vascular - Neurosurgery - Ophthalmology - Otolaryngology - Orthopedic - Urology - Plastic - Podiatry - Oral surgery - Thoracic - Gynecology - and General Surgery procedures
• Set's up Equipment and Surgical Instrumentation: Determines Technical Factors Sets up and test functionality of equipment such as air-powered equipment - fiber optic equipment - laparoscopic equipment - surgical microscopes - brain navigation systems - lasers - technology advanced robotic surgery - arthroscopy equipment - urologic equipment - and recording devices
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are both available and in working order prior to the surgical procedure
• Adjusts equipment controls to clarify readings and prepare for operation
• Performs nontechnical equipment maintenance and cleaning - and pre-treatment for all reusable medical equipment and instrumentation
• Coordinates repair of potentially hazardous equipment
• (frayed cords - malfunctioning controls - etc.) with appropriate staff
• Operates equipment and assists surgical team in performance of procedures - able to trouble shoot and adjust - prior to notification of bio-medical engineering
• Positions Patients for Procedures Provides direct patient care by performing the following: Assists nursing staff in room preparation and patient transfer to OR Table as needed Applies positioning aids to table and places patient extremities into the apparatus - if needed Ensures proper positioning and patient safety measures are maintained and in ­place Transports procedure items to operating room and prepositions them
• Opens sterile items and arranges surgical area and equipment for procedure performance
• Prepares - organizes - and maintains highly complex sterile surgical set-ups
• In conjunction with the circulating nurse - performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy
• He/she is responsible for the accountability of all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure
• Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts - suctioning - holding retractors - applying skin staples - cutting sutures and preparing prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures
• Maintains Equipment and Work Areas: Maintains OR area - performs monthly cleaning to storage locations as per hospital policy
• Assesses equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials
• Assists in all aspects of supply management - including but not limited to ordering of supplies from logistics and putting them away
• Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g. - frayed cords - water on floor) and takes corrective action
• Processes instruments and supplies after surgery Cooperates fully with equipment inventory - including meeting established timelines Cooperates fully in equipment trials and procurement processes
• Provides Guidance Provides guidance and support to health technicians and technical students of an approved surgical technology program - able to demonstrate for the resident team the functionality of the more complex instrumentation - and/or any other novice scrub support staff
• Provides guidance and support to professional and technical students of an approved surgical technology program
• Other duties Participates with surgical team members in quality improvement activities
• Updates personal knowledge regarding current trends in surgical technology through continuing education courses
• Participates in developing and maintaining appropriate and cost-effective inventory practices Utilizes universal precautions in all work functions Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• 9:00AM-5:30PM or 7:00AM-5:30PM (with rotating days off) Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician (Direct-Hire Authority)/PD10426-A Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients - most of which are 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
• 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.