- Position Title
- Surgical Technician
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBST-12630111-25-KC Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Monday, December 9, 2024 to Tuesday, September 30, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Do you claim Veterans’ Preference?
2.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from the agency hiring for this position? If yes, confirm:
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
- you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
- you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- your grade is equivalent to or below the grade level of the vacancy; AND,
- your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
For more information, review the USAJOBS Help Center.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice or a Proposed Removal/Separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
3.
Are you a current or former federal employee displaced from a position in a federal agency other than the Department of Veterans Affairs? If yes, confirm:
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
- you are located in the same local commuting area of the vacancy; AND,
- you are applying to a position that is at or below the grade level of the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- you are applying to a position that does not have greater promotion potential than the position from which you were or will be separated; AND,
- your last performance rating of record is at least fully successful or the equivalent.
To verify your eligibility, you must submit supporting documentation such as a Reduction in Force (RIF) separation notice to include your latest performance rating (if the notice does not have this information included, you must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal) and a copy of your latest Notification of Personnel Action, Standard Form 50.
Preferences
1.
Which of the following items describes your current or recent (within the last five years) political appointee service?
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
If you responded yes to any of the items below, you will need to include a SF-50 specifying your prior service.
Your resume must be submitted in English and include the following information for each job listed:
- Job title Duties (be as detailed as possible)
- Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
- Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
- Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
- Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail.
By submitting your application, you are certifying, to the best of your knowledge and belief, all the information submitted by you with your application for employment is true, complete, and made in good faith, and that you have truthfully and accurately represented your work experience, knowledge, skills, abilities and education (degrees, accomplishments, etc.). The information you provide as part of your application may be investigated. You are also certifying, and acknowledging, that misrepresenting your experience or education, or providing false or fraudulent information in, or with your application, may affect your eligibility for appointment and/or continued employment. False or fraudulent statements may be punishable by fine or imprisonment (18 U.S.C. 1001).
2.
I authorize my application information being shared with hiring managers for similar positions. I understand this option may not result in further consideration for additional positions nor will it impact my application for this announcement.
3.
Applicants are required to undergo and successfully pass a pre-employment drug screening test and must submit to random drug testing after employment. Will you comply with this requirement?
Assessment 1
Thank you for your interest in this position with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your current level of education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience and education are subject to verification by investigation. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience or education as proof to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.
1.
Individual Occupational Requirement: Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience requirements.
Please indicate below how you meet the Individual Occupational Requirements 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.
Please indicate below how you meet the Individual Occupational Requirements 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.
In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), applicants must also meet the experience requirements relevant to this position.
2.
(Minimum Qualifications) Select the one statement that best describes the experience that you possess that demonstrates your ability to perform the work at the GS-7 level or equivalent pay band in the Federal service.
To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level, you must meet one of the following:
Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) in Federal Service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as Experience with all Surgical Sub-specialties (General, Laparoscopic, GU, GYN, Ortho, Neuro, ENT, Plastics, Robotic, CV/Thoracic); experience with scrubbing on Complex Procedures, Robotic Procedures, Open Heart Procedures; experience with normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology of all systems, and how these systems interact and what impact surgical intervention had on these systems; skill in the use of wide range of instrumentation for all surgical specialties: names functions, assembly/disassembly, testing and calibration for safety and accuracy, functioning/troubleshooting if they malfunction during surgery, maintenance, disinfecting and sterilizing; and skill in the use of draping techniques which will establish and maintain a sterile field, protect the patient's privacy and provide security for delicate instruments, i.e. electrocautery hand pieces, scopes and cameras and laser hand pieces.
To qualify for this position at the GS-7 level, you must meet one of the following:
Specialized Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-6) in Federal Service, that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of a Surgical Technician, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Qualifying specialized experience is defined as Experience with all Surgical Sub-specialties (General, Laparoscopic, GU, GYN, Ortho, Neuro, ENT, Plastics, Robotic, CV/Thoracic); experience with scrubbing on Complex Procedures, Robotic Procedures, Open Heart Procedures; experience with normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology of all systems, and how these systems interact and what impact surgical intervention had on these systems; skill in the use of wide range of instrumentation for all surgical specialties: names functions, assembly/disassembly, testing and calibration for safety and accuracy, functioning/troubleshooting if they malfunction during surgery, maintenance, disinfecting and sterilizing; and skill in the use of draping techniques which will establish and maintain a sterile field, protect the patient's privacy and provide security for delicate instruments, i.e. electrocautery hand pieces, scopes and cameras and laser hand pieces.
Select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your current level of education and/or experience that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. When answering the questionnaire, remember that your experience and education are subject to verification by investigation. You may be asked to provide specific examples or documentation of experience or education as proof to support your answers, or you may be required to verify a response by a practical demonstration of your claimed ability to perform a task.
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
3.
Thorough knowledge of appropriate name, uses of, dosages, physical characteristics and adverse effects of all medications used on the sterile field.
4.
Handles specimens correctly.
5.
Ability to interact effectively and communicate clearly and appropriately with all levels of medical center staff, visitors, patients, and students.
6.
Able to identify and/or take action to correct actual or potential safety hazards concerning the infection control and equipment malfunction when setting up complex systems.
7.
Prepared grafts, suctions, holds retractors, applies staples, prepares prosthetic items and other surgical devices during procedures.
8.
Ability to correctly perform the Heimlich maneuver and CPR.
9.
Ability to prepare/set-up endoscopic towers, powered equipment, and all accessory equipment.
10.
Ability to correctly utilize and care for all RME; critical, semi-critical and non-critical.
11.
Performs all instrument and sponge counts correctly on all procedures.
12.
Utilizes appropriate assistive devices (i.e., lifts, transfer devices, other personnel) to promote safety of patients and staff.
13.
Functions as primary scrub for all procedures; implantation/set-up of all surgical procedures.
14.
Implement sterile technique, independently set-up instrumentation utilizing sterile technique, maintains sterile technique.
15.
Ability to identify any breaks in sterile technique and provide immediate correction of break in technique.
16.
Ability to actualize regulatory guidelines and practice standards into work practice