The Surgical Technician is a member of the Surgical Specialty Operating Room. This position is in the surgical specialty service line of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. The primary purpose of this position is to directly aid the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. A Surgical Technician does this by participating as an active member of the surgical team with preprocedural planning, day-of set up and implementation of complex equipment and instrumentation. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-6 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-5. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Assisting with the preparation and protection of sterile fields during surgery; monitoring and maintaining aseptic techniques throughout surgical procedures; handling medical instruments, supplies and equipment during 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. NOTE: 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. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have Successfully completed 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. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and graduate education. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Infection Control Medical Information Patient Care 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. 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 ST 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. 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 include but are not limited to: The incumbent sets up and operates various medical equipment, necessitating a working knowledge of all required equipment and instruments used for each procedure. These include, but are not limited to, Surgical Robots, Lasers, Microscopes, Laparoscopic/Endoscopic cameras and associated equipment. Disposable and non-disposable surgical instrumentation. Battery and air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and/or any other operating room supplies and equipment used in a complex surgical suite. He/she must also demonstrate competency in initial care and cleaning of this equipment to ensure they are properly processed and sterilized between patient use. Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and complex equipment during all surgical procedures such as: open heart, thoracic, major vascular, neurosurgery, microsurgery, transplantation, gynecology, urology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, a full range of general surgery cases, minimally invasive procedures, orthopedic surgery and Robotics. Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile surgical setups. During set up for surgical procedures the ST is the first line patient advocate inspecting packaging and content of surgical supplies and equipment. The ST ensures that all parameters of sterilization have been maintained prior to anything being introduced to the surgical field. This is done via careful inspection of package integrity for holes, discoloration, dampness, water spots, etc. They then review package content ensuring that all sterilization indicators have changed color, i.e. tape, indicator strips, etc. The ST visually and physically inspects each instrument and piece of equipment for chips, cracks, missing parts, i.e. screws, forceps teeth, etc. They also inspect working parts, i.e. hinges, ratchets, etc. to ensure the instruments work correctly. Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions. Maintains rules and regulations of restricted and semi-restricted areas of the operating room suite. Conducts routine assessment of equipment and instrument needs. The ST collaborates with OR specialty leads and business staff to maintain a constant list of equipment and instruments to be replaced and/or upgraded. Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g., frayed cords, water on floor) and takes corrective action. Performs required pre-treatment processing of instruments after surgery. Ensures that used instruments are immediately transported to sterile processing. Provides guidance and support to Nursing Assistants and other Surgical Technicians (Operating Room Nursing Assistants). Mentors volunteers, aides, non-surgical team members, students, and other personnel to the scrub role and ST duties. Participates with surgical team members in quality improvement activities. Such as revisions to policy, i.e. changes to the surgical count policy. Updates personal knowledge regarding current trends in surgical technology through continuing education courses. Assists in developing and maintaining appropriate and cost-effective inventory practices. i.e. Surgery uses \"bulk\" specialty kits. i.e. an Open-Heart custom pack has multiple supplies wrapped in one package to facilitate setting up for a complex procedure quickly. Work Schedule: Various Shifts Avalaible Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD00661A 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 ST 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."]

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