Surgical Technician

Full Job Description

This position is in the surgical specialty service line of the Corporal Michael J Crescenz Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

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, 04/10/2026.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: 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; 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 .

NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists.

Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

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. 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.

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/.

Major Duties:

The Surgical Technician handles instruments, supplies and equipment necessary during the surgical procedure.

The Surgical Technician has an understating of the procedures performed and anticipates the needs of the surgeon. Preoperative Duties are as follows: 1.

Donning OR attire and personal protective equipment (PPE). 2. Gathers, checks, and opens supplies and equipment needed for the surgical procedure. 3.

Performs the surgical scrub, and donning gown and gloves. 4. Sets up the sterile back table and Mayo stand with instruments, supplies, equipment, and medications/solutions needed for the procedure. 5.

Performs initial instrument, sharps and sponge counts with the circulator. 6. Assists the team members with gowning and gloving. 7. Assists with draping the patient and establishing the sterile field.

8. Participates in the surgical site and patient verification during the "time out" procedure. 9. Secures tubing, cords and other sterile accessories. C. Intraoperative Duties are as follows: 1.

Prepares and anticipates additional instrumentation, equipment and supplies for usage during the procedure. 2.

Anticipates the needs of the surgeon by passing instruments and supplies to surgeon during procedure. 3.

Measures and passes medications, hemostatic agents and irrigation solutions utilized during the surgical procedure. 4. Holds retractors or instruments as directed by the surgeon. 5.

Sponges or suctions the operative site. 6. Applies electrocautery to clamps or forceps on bleeders. 7. Cuts suture material as directed by the surgeon. 8.

Coordinates the camera or changes out robotic arms/instruments during endoscopic surgery as directed by the surgeon. 9. Maintains highest standard of sterile technique during the procedure. 10.

Performs additional counts as necessary. 11. Prepares sterile dressings and/or immobilization devices. 12. Prepares and passes off specimen(s) as appropriate. 13.

Cleans and prepares instruments for terminal sterilization. 14. Assists in prepping the OR for the next patient. 15.

Participates in debriefing and quality improvement practices to ensure quality patient care. D. Additional Duties: 1. Assists with transferring patient to and from the operating room table. 2.

Monitors the comfort of the patient and provides verbal and tactile reassurance to the patient. 3. Assists in maintaining normothermia. 4.

Assists with positioning the patient, using appropriate equipment and anatomical principles to avoid patient injury. 5. Completes the patient skin prep prior to draping by the sterile surgical team. 6.

Properly cares for specimens. 7. Secures dressings after incision closure. 8.

Updates and keeps accurate records of the surgeon's preferences Performs other duties as assigned Work Schedule:10 hours, 4 days a week, with rotating day off- 7:00a.m. - 17:30p.m.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD00272-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized