This position is located in Nursing Service at the Veterans Administration (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6) at the Charles George VA Medical Center, Asheville, NC. The position serves as a Surgical Technician and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/08/2025. For this Surgical Technician, GS-05, GS-06, GS-07 position: Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5,6,7) in the Federal Service that has given me the particular knowledge, skills and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician. 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. This experience must be supported by your resume to be creditable. 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 (1) full year of graduate education (18 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. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) OR, Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience, as described above, which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED). 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-07. 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. 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 Functions a a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during a variety of surgical procedures performed; 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; Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile instrumentation and surgical setup; 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; Assists the team members with care of the patients; Handles all specimens appropriately; In conjunction with the circulation Registered Nurse (RN), performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy; Responsible for the accountability for all the surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedures; Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures; Recognizes changes in patient condition including emergencies; Provides patient information tot he RN/Anesthesia Team for inclusion in the patient's plan of care; Supports the healthcare team through the reinforcement of patient education; Organizes/prioritizes patient care activities; Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, operating room technology students, and new Operating Room staff in the operation of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments, etc.; Functions as second circulator for complex surgical procedures; Assists in scheduling cases, answering phones, and relaying messages as appropriate. 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. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; day tour with call requirements Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD04100A Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are at various 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 with compromising principles of aseptic technique and in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon. Complies with annual requirements of reviewing and discussing role in managing emotionally ill and combative patients. Demonstrates understanding of alternative/less restrictive measures and ability to manage situations in the work environment. Demonstrates appropriate patient monitoring and observation within the work environment.