Surgical Technician

Veterans Health Administration • Milwaukee, WI

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Surgical Technician serves as a primary scrub person, preparing, organizing, assembling, and handling instruments, supplies, and equipment for surgical procedures using preference cards and posting slips. The technician collaborates with the surgical team before and during procedures, anticipates the surgeon’s needs, and assists with tasks such as suctioning, holding retractors, and preparing skin grafts. The role includes following universal precautions and department policies for specimen handling, providing correct labeling information to the circulating nurse, and assisting with patient positioning, preparation, draping, dressings, and transport to and from the operating room.

The Surgical Technician shares responsibility with the circulating Registered Nurse for soft goods, sharps, and instrument counts, and follows department policies to prevent retained surgical items. The role also includes training residents, medical and nursing students, surgical technology students, and new operating room staff. Assignments may include scrub duties, sterile core work, turnover team duties, clerical work, scheduling, and surgical assisting.

The technician maintains equipment and work areas, performs non-technical equipment maintenance, assesses supply needs, and works with logistics personnel to maintain adequate stock. The position provides guidance and support to colleagues and learners, identifies and corrects hazards, and helps protect patients and staff from injury during patient positioning and movement. Other duties may be assigned.

The operating room’s hours are 0700–1930. New hires begin with an orientation schedule of Monday through Friday, 0700–1530; after orientation, the work schedule is determined by department needs. On-call duty, including weekends and holidays, is required. This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet the qualifications by the announcement closing date of 10/23/2026.
• For GS-7 applicants who are current federal employees or former employees seeking reinstatement or VEOA appointment and have held a GS grade within the past 52 weeks: one year of time-in-grade at GS-6, documented with SF-50s.
• Qualify through either at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-6, qualifying graduate education, or a combination of qualifying graduate education and specialized experience.
• Specialized experience must include knowledge of medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology, and aseptic technique for preparing and protecting the sterile field; sterilizer operations and tests; sterilization, packaging, storage, and shelf life; handling instruments, supplies, and equipment; cleaning and rotation of sterile supplies; and handling contaminated items, quality control, personal hygiene, universal precautions, and infection-control procedures.
• For the graduate-education qualification, successfully complete one full year of graduate education (18 semester hours) or an internship in directly related coursework, such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, or aseptic techniques, at an accredited college or university.
• Submit transcripts if relying on education to qualify.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, required online assessment, and online onboarding process.
• Selected applicants are subject to urinalysis for illegal drug use before appointment; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Meet applicable Selective Service registration requirements for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Pass a background and security investigation and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment.
• Serve a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Be able to distinguish low-range sounds or voices amid competing conversations, alarms, and equipment noise in a surgical environment.
• Be dexterous in passing instruments while maintaining sterile technique and minimizing effort required from the surgeon.
• Meet the physical and mental demands of the work under normal and emergent conditions, including extended standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching, and stretching.
• Work the schedule assigned according to department needs after orientation and be available for required on-call coverage, including weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, organize, assemble, and handle instruments, supplies, and equipment for surgical procedures using preference cards and posting slips.
• Collaborate with the surgical team before and during surgery and anticipate the surgeon’s needs, including suctioning, holding retractors, and preparing skin grafts.
• Follow universal precautions and facility and department policies for handling specimens, and provide the circulating nurse with correct labeling information.
• Assist with patient positioning, preparation, draping, supplies, dressings, and transportation to and from the operating room.
• Share responsibility with the circulating RN for soft goods, sharps, and instrument counts, and follow policies to prevent retained surgical items.
• Assist in training residents, medical students, nursing students, surgical technology students, and new operating room staff.
• Perform assigned duties that may include scrubbing, sterile core duties, turnover team work, clerical work, scheduling, and surgical assisting.
• Maintain equipment and work areas, including performing non-technical equipment maintenance to help prevent malfunctions.
• Assess equipment and supply needs and assist logistics personnel in maintaining adequate supplies and materials.
• Provide guidance and support to other Surgical Technicians, new operating room staff, students, residents, and attending physicians.
• Recognize potentially hazardous conditions and take corrective action.
• Protect self and others from injury related to patient positioning and movement.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefit eligibility depends on position type, and applicants are directed to contact the hiring agency for details.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed