The Health Technician assists as a member of the surgical team in the Operating Room (OR). Performs routine and delegated duties according to policies and procedures of the VA and Operating Room. Performs cleaning duties as necessary and assists in maintenance of sterile and non-sterile supplies, instruments, and equipment. Assists in preparation and transportation of patients. Maintains education in surgical, operative and related aspects of nursing care of veterans.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/17/2025. Individual Occupational Requirements (IOR): IOR must be satisfied to be further considered for this position: 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. OR, Education and Training: For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. Health Technician Minimum Qualifications GS-0640-05; 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-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Performing both clerical and clinical duties in a medical/healthcare environment; 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 a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college, or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. Note: Transcripts required. OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education. An equivalent combination of specialized experience and education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Note: Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. NOTE: If basing qualifications on education transcripts MUST be included with your application. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Infection Control Medical Information Patient Care Technical Competence 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 involve considerable and strenuous physical exertion on a regular reoccurring basis in lifting, and positioning patients under varying degrees of anesthesia. Considerable agility and dexterity must be utilized when transpo1ting and/or repositioning patients immediately after they have undergone major surgery as they are highly susceptible to post operative shock during that period. Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking. In addition, the employee must be able to push heavy patients on stretcher or in in wheelchairs and to transfer patient from bed or table to wheelchairs or stretchers. Must be able to push heavy equipment. Must be able to aid in holding patient extremities for prepping. Incumbent should make every effort to utilized available patient transfer devices available or to obtain additional staff support, in order to prevent personal harm or injury, He/she must respond positively to the actions of other team members who are likewise undergoing stress, He/she must be emotionally stable and able to adjust to different types of personality/behaviors using cheerfulness, compassion, courtesy, and empathy. He/she must be quick and dependable in taking emergency action. 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 may include but are not limited to; Assists in preparation of the surgical patient in the OR, SOS, Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Endoscopy, and Surgical Clinics. Provides clean stretcher/bed and linen for each patient. Checks patient's chart and identification band using 2 patient identifiers. Notifies charge nurse of discrepancies. Demonstrates qualities of compassion, concern and courtesy to patients, families and visitors. Observes for patency of tubes during transport and ensures side rails are in the up position. Observes and watches patients at all times, providing a safe environment. Uses protective and supportive devices for the comfort and safety of patients by applying safety straps, pillows, etc. Observes patency of drainage tubes, catheters and intravenous lines, rep01is problems to professional nurse or anesthesia personnel7. Transports patients with infectious and communicable disease according to established guidelines. Recognizes changes in patient's condition and behavior, for example, level of consciousness, shortness of breath, diaphoresis, inappropriate behavior or other significant changes during transport and reports observations to a professional nurse and /or anesthesia personnel of changes in the patient's condition or behavior. Notifies operating room personnel of patient's arrival to ensure continuity of care, proper identification and observation. Observes patients in the Same Day Surgery/Endoscopy area who are awaiting transfer to the surgery/procedure area or ward of destination by providing comfort measures, i.e., blankets, pillow or positioning aid and emotional support and alert professional nurse and/or anesthesia personnel of changes in the patient's condition or behavior. Assists in allaying patient's anxieties. Maintains close observation to detect deviation from normal and responds to emergency situations appropriately. Provides assistance/guidance to the families in the Surgical Family Waiting room as directed by nursing staff when necessary Assist in restocking linens and supplies in OR/PACU14, Restocks warmers with IV solutions, fluids, gowns, and blankets. Replaces Oxygen flow-meter on cylinders in tank supply cart16. Replaces Oxygen tank on stretcher when below½ full Assist in OR tum over to include putting supplies away, picking case carts, patient positing(i.e., assist nurse, holding for preps), and equipment retrieval for surgical cases. Cleans equipment and supplies following procedures, etc. Returns equipment and supplies to proper location after use. Assist with desk duties when needed in OR/PACU. May perform administrative duties to include: receiving incoming phone calls to the OR desk and the ability to relay messages appropriately and ability to triage priority. Assist PACU with cleaning equipment and area after patients are discharged from unit. Clean and restock specific areas when requested by staff to include checking for outdated items. Adheres to fire, safety and security (HIPPA) requirements22. Cleans and straightens work/equipment storage areas and checks biomed medical equipment inspection sticker to ensure biomed PM sticker is current. If not current will place work order and notify biomed. Keeps equipment clean. Reports equipment in need of repair, detects unsafe conditions of work to supervisor, reports need for additional equipment. Other task/duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full time. Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Operating Room)/PD25255-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.