Surgical Technician

Veterans Health Administration•Las Vegas, NV

12d

About The Position

The Surgical Technician assists surgeons and other members of the surgical team during procedures and helps plan and implement complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team. Duties vary according to the needs of direct care providers, nurses, and patients and may include clerical support. As a primary scrub person, the technician handles instruments, supplies, and equipment for procedures including thoracic, major vascular, and total joint surgery. The role includes setting up and maintaining sterile fields and complex surgical setups; confirming that supplies and equipment are available; responding to the stages of surgery and anticipating surgeon needs; following aseptic technique and infection-control procedures; assisting with patient positioning and preparation; handling specimens; performing counts with the circulating Registered Nurse; maintaining accountability for instruments and equipment; and assisting the surgeon with tasks such as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, and cutting sutures. The technician also prepares prostheses and surgical devices, participates in patient-safety programs, assists in training students and new staff, and may function as a second circulator during complex procedures. When assigned on-call duties, the technician must be available to begin an emergency procedure within one hour of being called back. The position also involves monitoring and maintaining the operating-room environment, equipment, and supplies. This includes checking cleanliness, temperature, humidity, emergency equipment, and supply stock; cleaning equipment; identifying and correcting hazards; and returning supplies and equipment to their appropriate areas. The work schedule is Monday through Friday and will be discussed during the interview. Physical duties include assisting with lifting and positioning patients, standing and walking for extended periods, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching, and stretching. The technician must be dexterous when passing instruments while maintaining aseptic technique.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Subject to a background and suitability investigation; designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Submit a complete application package, including required resume and transcripts; selected applicants must complete online onboarding and provide acceptable identification.
Serve a two-year probationary period, subject to written certification for continued employment.
Knowledge of highly technical instrumentation, human anatomy, and aseptic technique for preparing and protecting the sterile field during surgery.
Knowledge of how to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging, storage, and shelf life.
Knowledge of standard precautions and implementation of infection-control policies and procedures.
Knowledge of the technical names, uses, physical characteristics, functions, and processing procedures for surgical instrumentation, supplies, and equipment.
Meet the GS-07 qualification requirement through either one year of qualifying specialized experience equivalent to GS-06, or one full year of graduate education (18 semester hours) or an internship in directly related coursework from an accredited college or university.
For experience-based qualification, demonstrate relevant experience handling surgical instruments and equipment, setting up sterile fields, coordinating required supplies and equipment, and preparing and maintaining complex surgical setups.
Submit transcripts if using education to qualify; education must be from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Resume must be no longer than two pages beginning September 27, 2025, and must be legible and no larger than 5 MB.

Nice To Haves

Recent hospital-based Surgical Technologist scrub experience in a high-volume operating room, with active work within the last two years.
Experience with robotic and endovascular cases.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary scrub person and handle instruments, supplies, and equipment during surgical procedures, including thoracic, major vascular, and total joint surgery.
Set up sterile fields and prepare, organize, and maintain complex surgical setups and required equipment.
Plan and discuss procedures with surgical professionals and ensure necessary supplies and equipment are available before surgery.
Observe and respond to each stage of procedures and anticipate the surgeon’s needs while maintaining concentration.
Follow universal precautions, aseptic technique, and infection-control policies when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment.
Assist team members with patient care, including positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies.
Be available to start emergency procedures within one hour of call-back when assigned on-call duties.
Handle specimens appropriately and perform sponge, sharp, and instrument counts with the circulating Registered Nurse.
Maintain accountability for surgical instruments and equipment used during procedures.
Assist surgeons by preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, cutting sutures, and preparing prostheses and surgical devices.
Participate in the surgical Time Out and other patient-safety programs.
Assist in training students and new operating-room staff in equipment operation, sterile technique, instrument handling, and operating-room procedures.
Function as a second circulator during complex surgical procedures.
Monitor and maintain the operating-room environment, including cleanliness, temperature, humidity, crash carts, emergency equipment, and supplies.
Clean and perform non-technical maintenance of equipment, identify hazards, and take corrective action.
Maintain adequate supplies and materials, put away supplies, send unused instruments to Sterile Processing Services, and clean and return equipment and positioning supplies.