Health Technician (Surgical Technician)

Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until July 24, 2024. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be referred periodically every 15 days until the position is filled.

This is a Part-Time Surgical Technician position located in the Perioperative Patient Care Center at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY.

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Overview

• Accepting applications
• Open & closing dates

04 / 24 / 2024 to 07 / 24 / 2024

Salary

$60,427 - $75,542 per year

Salary will be pro-rated to reflect hours worked

Pay scale & grade

GS 6 - 7

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Location

1 vacancy in the following location

Bronx, NY

Remote job

• Telework eligible
• Travel Required

Not required

• Relocation expenses reimbursed
• Appointment type

Permanent -

Work schedule

Part-time - 20 Hours

Service

Competitive

• Promotion potential
• Job family (Series)

0640 Health Aid And Technician

• Supervisory status
• Security clearance

Other

• Drug test
• Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS) / Low Risk

Trust determination process

Suitability / Fitness

Announcement number

CBTE-12394486-24-VM

Control number

788303400

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This job is open to

Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL)

Federal employees who meet the definition of a "surplus" or "displaced" employee.

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY : This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

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Duties

At the GS-7 this position functions in an advanced capacity and is the full performance level of a Surgical Technician, which is a member of the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures.

The Surgical Technician performs the following major duties

• Functions as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures such as : open heart, thoracic, major vascular, neurosurgery, microsurgery, total joint replacement, renal transplant and robotic surgery.
• 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 operation room supplies and equipment.
• 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 surgical setups.
• Observes and responds to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeons by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time.
• Utilizes universal precautions and follows all Infection Control Policies and Procedures when handling specimens, supplies and equipment.
• Assist team members with care of the patient, i.e. positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies.
• Handles all specimens appropriately.
• In conjunction with the circulating Registered Nurse (RN), perform sponge and instrument counts to verify accuracy.
• Assist surgeons by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures.
• Prepare prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures.

Work Schedule : Part-Time, Monday and Wednesday, 7 : 30 am to 6 pm, (10hr flex tour). 8hr tour also available 0730-4pm. 24hr mandatory rotation on call

Virtual : This is not a virtual position.

Position Description Title / PD# : Health Technician (Surgical Technician) / PD52410A and PD55654A

Retention Incentive : Authorized, after 90days of hire and satisfactory performance

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI) : Not approved

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) : Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report : Not required

Physical Requirements : Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are stages of unconsciousness.

There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching, and prolong stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon.

The surgical technician must be dexterous in passing instruments to surgeons without compromising principles of aseptic technique and in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon.

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.

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background / suitability investigation
• Designated and / or random drug testing may be required
• May serve a probationary period
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12 / 31 / 1959
• A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07 / 24 / 2024.

GS-06 grade level : One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience includes :

Specialized experience for GS-06 : 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 : Preparing sterile fields for surgical procedures.

Monitoring and maintaining aseptic techniques throughout surgical procedures. Handling medical instruments, supplies, and equipment during surgical procedures.

Performing proper cleaning techniques. Handling and rotation of sterile supplies. Properly handling contaminated items and applying knowledge of universal precautions.

Implementing infection control policies and procedures.

There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level.

GS-07 grade level : One year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-06 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

Specialized experience includes :

• Specialized Experience : Specialized Experience for GS-07 : You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.
• Specialized experience is defined as experience performing work as a surgical technician, operating room assistant, or surgical technologist performing scrub duties for all inpatient and outpatient surgical procedure;
• setting up for the surgical procedure; assembling equipment and supplies as well as monitoring and maintaining aseptic techniques throughout the procedure;

coordinating or participating in the positioning and prepping of patients and obtaining supplies; specimen handling; and assisting the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin graphs, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples and cuffing sutures. OR,

Education for GS-07 - Graduate education or an internship meets the specialized experience required above GS-5 only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position.

One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7. (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED) OR,

Combining Experience and Education for GS-07 - Combination of specialized experience and education is acceptable. Education must be in excess of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation.

TRANSCRIPTS 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-XX.

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.

Preferred experience : Certified Surgical Technician Certificate and an Active Basic Cardiac Life support (BCLS) provider card American Heart Association

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.

Education

Note : Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment.

You can verify your education here : http : / / ope.ed.gov / accreditation / .

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions : All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment.

Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies.

To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job.

Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https : / / www.opm.gov / .

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave : Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee.

VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service.

This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding.

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Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent.

Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.