- Position Title
- Surgical Technician
- Agency
- Veterans Health Administration
- Announcement Number
- CBSU-12707378-25-GL Opens in new window
- Open Period
- Monday, March 17, 2025 to Tuesday, March 25, 2025
For preview purposes only. To apply, please return to the USAJOBS announcement and click the Apply button.
Eligibilities
1.
Are you willing to accept the conditions of employment as indicated in the announcement?
2.
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?
3.
In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Are you proficient in basic written and spoken English?
4.
Please provide your driver's license number, issuing state and expiration date. Reminder - Do not include a copy of your license; if referred for interview it may be requested at that time.
If you are basing your qualifications on education (or a combination of education and experience) or if the position requires a college education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.
5.
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.
6.
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.
This position requires you to have and maintain a current CPR Certification.
Do you have a current CPR Certification?
Do you have a current CPR Certification?
3.
A current, valid state-issued Driver's License is required for this position. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs, therefore; please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid state-issued Driver's License.
Do you possess a current and valid state-issued driver's license?
Do you possess a current and valid state-issued driver's license?
Assessment 1
Select the appropriate answer to each of the following questions based on your current level of experience and/or education or training 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. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).
1.
English Language Proficiency: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Are you proficient in basic written and spoken English?
Select “Yes” or “No” to the following question(s).
2.
All applicants for Health Technician - Surgical Technician, GS-0640-07 must meet the Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR) for further consideration:
Specialized Experience (for positions GS-04 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.
Do you meet the Individual Occupational Requirement for this position?
Specialized Experience (for positions GS-04 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.
Do you meet the Individual Occupational Requirement for this position?
3.
Qualification for GS07:
Specialized Experience: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS06 in the Federal Service that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is related to the work of a Health Technician - Surgical Technician. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Providing assistance to a surgical team during surgical procedures; utilizing knowledge of highly technical medical instruments, human anatomy and aseptic technique to prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery; functioning as primary scrub person handling instruments, supplies, equipment during all surgical procedures; preparing, organizing, and maintaining highly complex sterile surgical set-up; observing and responding to each state of a surgical procedure to anticipate the needs of the surgeon; handling specimens appropriately; cleaning and decontaminating instruments before and after procedures; Note: Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements;
OR,
Education: One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-07. Note: One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If this information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.
Do you meet the qualifications for this position?
Specialized Experience: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS06 in the Federal Service that has equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position and that is related to the work of a Health Technician - Surgical Technician. Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Providing assistance to a surgical team during surgical procedures; utilizing knowledge of highly technical medical instruments, human anatomy and aseptic technique to prepare and protect the sterile field during surgery; functioning as primary scrub person handling instruments, supplies, equipment during all surgical procedures; preparing, organizing, and maintaining highly complex sterile surgical set-up; observing and responding to each state of a surgical procedure to anticipate the needs of the surgeon; handling specimens appropriately; cleaning and decontaminating instruments before and after procedures; Note: Applicants who have the 1 year of appropriate specialized experience, as indicated, are not required by this standard to have general experience, education above the high school level, or any additional specialized experience to meet the minimum qualification requirements;
OR,
Education: One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-07. Note: One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If this information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.
Do you meet the qualifications for this position?
Select the one statement that most accurately describes your training and experience carrying out each task using the scale provided.
4.
Responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during a variety of surgical procedures performed in all surgical sub-specialties/procedures including general surgery, urological surgery, vascular surgery, ENT surgery, orthopedic/podiatry surgery and ophthalmological surgery.
5.
Sets-up sterile field with all required items for each procedure such as air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, recording devices, and other operating room supplies and equipment.
6.
Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile instrumentation and surgical set-up.
7.
Performs sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy. Responsible for the accountability for all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedures. Sharps and sponges are handled per policy.
8.
Participates in official time out with surgical team and ensures correct site, correct procedure, correct laterality, correct patient, position, and all testing results are in place, including lab and radiology results. Also, verifies sterility and dates of implants per Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Directive.
9.
Assists the team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies, transportation to and from the Operating Room (OR).
10.
Supports the healthcare team through the reinforcement of patient education.
11.
Recognizes changes in patient condition including emergencies, perioperatively and takes appropriate actions in response to the patient emergent situation.
12.
Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure.
13.
Communicates effectively with all surgical team members.
14.
Sets limits within the Surgical Team (ST)/patient relationship, which are clearly defined.
15.
Interacts in a courteous/respectful manner with co-workers/members of other services.
16.
Observes and responds promptly to each state of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time.
17.
Recognizes changes in patient condition including emergencies, perioperatively and takes appropriate actions in response to the patient emergent situation.
18.
Recognizes potentially hazardous situations (e.g., frayed cords, water on floor), and takes corrective action.
19.
Reports unsafe equipment and working conditions to appropriate individuals.
Transcript Reminder - If you are basing your qualifications on education (or a combination of education and experience) or if the position requires a college education to qualify, you must submit a copy of your transcripts with your application.
Resume Reminder- Your resume must include the following information 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. Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.