Surgical Technician

Veterans Health Administration • El Paso, TX

24d • Onsite

About The Position

The Surgical Technician is assigned to the VA Ambulatory Surgical Unit and carries out surgical technology duties according to the procedure being performed. The position requires accurately recognizing, reporting, and recording relevant patient information and participating with surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team and a registered nurse.

The Surgical Technician prepares and maintains sterile fields and complex surgical setups, checks supplies and equipment, applies aseptic techniques, and supports the surgical team throughout procedures. The role includes assisting with patient care, handling specimens, performing counts, supporting endoscopy scope disinfection, and responding to changes in patient condition or emergencies. The technician also maintains a safe work area and equipment, completes required training and competency activities, maintains certification as a certified surgical technologist, and provides guidance and support to other staff.

Work schedule: Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Telework is not authorized, and this is not a virtual position. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

• One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower federal grade level, GS-05, or qualifying education or a combination of education and experience.
• Experience route: one year as a Surgical Technician in an acute-care-facility operating room, with a stated minimum of two years of experience in an ambulatory surgical operating room and scrubbing knowledge and proficiency in orthopedic, eye, and laparoscopic surgeries.
• Specialized experience must include an in-depth understanding of major body systems to interpret surgeon requests and surgical emergencies and recognize additional patient-care needs.
• Specialized experience must include extensive knowledge of surgical instruments and equipment, equipment testing, and postoperative decontamination procedures.
• Knowledge of procedures and safety precautions for high-level disinfection of instruments.
• Knowledge of asepsis for preparing and protecting the sterile field during surgery.
• In-depth knowledge of standard precautions and ability to implement infection-control policies and procedures.
• Education route: one full year of graduate-level education or an internship in a directly related field, such as anatomy and physiology, surgical technology, or aseptic techniques, from an accredited college or university.
• Education and experience may be combined to meet the qualification requirements; graduate coursework must be directly related to the position and obtained at an accredited college or university.
• Submit transcripts when using education to qualify; education cannot be credited without documentation.
• Maintain certification as a certified surgical technologist from the Association of Surgical Technologists.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Complete the required application steps and online assessment.
• Selected applicants for testing-designated positions are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
• Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Selected applicants must complete a background/security investigation and online onboarding and provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Meet the physical demands described: regularly move and transport light items, move about the work unit for long periods, and regularly bend, lift, stoop, stretch, and lift or reposition patients or perform similar activities.

Responsibilities

• Independently set up the sterile field with the equipment and supplies required for each procedure, including air-powered, fiberoptic, laparoscopic, microscope, laser, arthroscopy, urologic, recording, and fluoroscopic equipment.
• Plan and discuss procedures with the assigned surgical team and ensure supplies and equipment are available before procedures begin.
• Prepare, organize, and maintain complex sterile surgical setups; check packaging integrity and chemical indicators.
• Prepare and maintain the field for endoscopic procedures using appropriate aseptic techniques and follow operating-room policies, infection-control guidelines, and AORN, SGNA, and AAMI standards and recommended practices.
• Monitor aseptic technique, recognize and immediately correct breaks in technique, and anticipate the surgeon’s needs throughout procedures.
• Use standard precautions and follow infection-control procedures when handling specimens, supplies, and equipment.
• Assist with patient care, including positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies.
• Handle specimens appropriately and participate with the circulating registered nurse in two-person verification of specimen labeling and patient identification.
• Participate in surgical briefings, time-outs, and debriefings.
• Perform sponge, sharps, and, when applicable, instrument counts with the circulating registered nurse; remain accountable for instruments and equipment during procedures.
• Ensure medications and fluids on the surgical field are labeled according to Joint Commission and AORN guidelines.
• Under direct surgeon supervision, assist with draping, keeping the operative site dry, providing exposure of the anatomy, anticipating needs, and other related tasks such as shave preps and final prepping.
• Clean instruments at the point of use according to standard operating procedures and take used instruments to SPS for decontamination.
• Recognize perioperative changes in patient condition and emergencies and assist the surgical team in responding appropriately.
• Communicate with vendors about instrument and equipment needs and ensure loaner items are requested and delivered to SPS in a timely manner.
• Work collaboratively with ASC staff, SPS, Logistics, the ASC Coordinator or designee, and Prosthetics.
• Decontaminate and high-level disinfect endoscopy scopes according to SGNA and AAMI standards and VA directives.
• Perform non-technical equipment maintenance, assess equipment needs, maintain adequate supplies, and report hazards or unsafe equipment and working conditions.
• Maintain a clean and safe operating-room work area and use equipment safely.
• Complete mandatory TMS training, competency demonstrations, safety training, new-equipment in-services, and annual reviews.
• Update knowledge of surgical technology through continuing education and maintain certification as a certified surgical technologist from the Association of Surgical Technologists.
• Provide guidance and support to SPS staff, new operating-room providers, nursing staff, and nursing assistants.
• Support quality-improvement activities with surgical team members.
• Provide respectful, non-judgmental, individualized patient-centered care and protect patient privacy and confidentiality.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.
• VA may offer newly appointed federal employees credit for job-related non-federal experience or active-duty uniformed military service when determining annual-leave accrual, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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