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Summary The Surgical Technician (ST) is a member of the Surgical Specialty Operating Room surgical team. This position is part of the surgical specialty service line of the Central Iowa VA Healthcare System and is under the direct supervision of the Nurse Manager of the Operating Room/PACU/Ambulatory Surgery. The primary purpose of the position is to directly assist the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Surgical Clinical Duties: 50% Setting up and operating various medical equipment, necessitating a working knowledge of all required instruments and equipment used for each procedure, including but not limited to, surgical robotics, lasers, microscopes, laparoscopic/endoscopic instrumentation and camera systems, disposable and reusable surgical and medical equipment, battery powered, air powered equipment, fiberoptic and arthroscopic equipment, navigation systems, ophthalmologic equipment, urologic equipment, ultrasound equipment and recording devices. Monitoring daily surgery schedules, including providing input into case scheduling based on complexity and equipment/supplies needed. Functioning as a primary scrub person responsible for highly complex sterile surgical setups and for handling instruments, supplies and complex equipment during surgical procedures such as: thoracic, open and hybrid vascular, neurosurgical, microsurgery, transplantation, urologic, ophthalmologic, otolaryngologic, plastic, general surgery cases, minimally invasion procedures, orthopedic and robotics. Inspecting package/tray contents to ensure that all sterilization indicators have appropriately changed color, visually and physically inspects each instrument and equipment for chips, crack, missing parts and ensures that all working parts (i.e. hinges, ratchets) are intact and functions correctly and sterility has not been compromised. Assisting the surgeon by holding retractors, applying skin staples, cutting suture, preparing implants and surgical devices and other similar procedures. Utilizing case carts with surgeon preferences to ensure that all equipment and supplies are readily available prior to the date of each surgical case. Utilizing universal precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handing specimens, supplies and equipment. Ensuring appropriate handling of surgical specimens including proper patient identification/verification, appropriate collection and medium specifics for the specimen and container and accurate hand-off between the surgeon(s), nurses and other members of the team. Collaborating with the circulating (RN) Registered Nurse and surgeon prior to a procedure to count and verify sponge, sharp, and that will be utilized during a surgical case. Supply Liaison: 25% Assisting in the monitoring of sterile supplies. Works collaboratively with logistics staff to maintain adequate surgical supplies, including but not limited to: restoking the OR cabinets, specialty carts and other secondary storage containers. Completing cleaning of supply areas and completion of outdating of surgical supplies. Training Liaison & Mentor: 15% Actively mentors' residents, medical students, nursing/ST students and new operating Room staff to guide these individuals when using equipment, applying sterile technique, instrument handling and OR procedures. Administrative Duties: 10% Answering telephones and assists with surgery scheduling needs and questions. Work Schedule: This position is intermittent. The tour of duty is Monday-Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm, with no set days to work, the incumbent will be scheduled as needed to fill in for the absence of staffing due to military leave and other leave. Telework: This position is not eligible for telework. Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD30381A Physical Demands: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are in 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. The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. Requirements Conditions of Employment Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. GS-06 grade level: One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 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: utilizing knowledge of medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and aseptic technique to prepare and protect sterile field during surgery; exercising sterile technique to include sterilizer operations and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging, storage, and shelf life; handling medical instruments, supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures; performing proper cleaning techniques, as well as the proper handling and rotation of sterile supplies; handling contaminated items, quality control, and personal hygiene, using knowledge of universal precautions and implementing infection control policies and procedures. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-06 level. Successful completion of one-half year of graduate education (9 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, aseptic techniques, etc. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-06 level. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade 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-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 A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. 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. Preferred Experience: 2 years of experience as a Surgical Technician. Experience in setting up a sterile field. Experience functioning as part of the surgical team in a variety of specialties, including but not limited to General, Orthopedic, Ophthalmic, Urologic, and Podiatric Surgery. Graduate of an accredited Surgical Technologist program. Certification as a Surgical Technologist. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. Additional Information Work Environment: Duties are performed in the operating rooms which require special OR attire with regular and recurring exposure to toxic and noxious gases such as methyl methacrylate, formalin, exposure to x-rays, exposure to blood and body fluids which are often infectious, and laser beams requiring special safety precautions. Appropriate scrub attire is required to provide an aseptic environment, including sterile gown and gloves, surgical caps to cover hair, and surgical mask. The incumbent is often required to wear protective attire such as eye wear, googles or face shields to prevent inadvertent splash injuries to eyes, hoods during total joint replacements, appropriate laser glasses when working with lasers and must frequently wear a lead apron as protection from radiation during various procedures. The operating room can be an exceptionally stressful work environment. Good mental and emotional health is required to function at an optimum level. Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information. The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.