Health Technician (Surgical Technician)

Summary

The Surgical Technician (OR) is a member of the Surgical Team, under the supervision of the O. R Nurse Manager, Surgical & Interventional Health Care Group located at the VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, California. The Surgical Technician will function as the primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures such as: open heart, thoracic, major vascular, neurosurgery, microsurgery, and total joint replacement surgery. The Surgical Technician is responsible for the setting a 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 and other operating room supplies and equipment. Assists the team members with care of the patient, i. e., positioning, prepping and obtaining supplies.
Work schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00 a. m. - 3:30 p. m.
This medical center operates 24 hours, seven days per week and you may be required to work days, evenings, nights, holidays, and/or weekends, to include modification in shifts and/or tours of duty, to meet medical center and patient care needs.

Duties

Some of the major duties of the position are:

• Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures such as: open heart, thoracic, major vascular, neurosurgery, microsurgery, and total joint replacement surgery.
• Sets up sterile field with all required items for each procedure.
• Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure.
• 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.
• Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cuffing sutures.
• Maintains equipment and work areas.
• Provides guidance and supervision to Nursing Assistants and other Surgical Technicians.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday, 8:00 A. M. to 4:30 P. M.
Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician / GS-6 006050A / GS-7 006049A
Physical Requirements: 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.
Work Environment: Duties are performed in the operating rooms which require special O. R. attire with regular and recurring exposure to toxic and and noxious gases such as: methylmethracryiate, flutaraldehyde, exposure to x-rays, and pure oxygen, exposure to blood and body fluids which are often infectious, and laser beams requiring special safety precautions.
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.
$42,127
$60,857
Job Details
Application Open Date
5/2/2018
Application Close Date
9/28/2018
Organization
Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Who May Apply
15523-US Citizens and Status Candidates
Status
Full-Time