Health Aid and Technician (Surgical Technician)

Job Title

Health Aid and Technician (Surgical Technician)

Duties

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Prepares and maintains the surgical area;
• Maintains proficiency in scrubbing for all operative procedures within the scope of the operating room responsible for handling instruments, supplies, and equipment during all surgical procedures;
• Assists the team members with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, and obtaining supplies;
• 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, robotic equipment, and other operating 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;
• Assists and anticipates the surgeon's needs by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures;
• Prepares prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures;
• Observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedure and anticipates the needs of the surgeon 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;
• Accounts for all surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure;
• Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, operating room technology students, and new Operating Room (OR) staff in the operation of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments, and OR procedures to include the scrub role in surgical procedures;
• Assist in positioning, preparation, and draping procedure;
• Performs simple wound closure as directed by the surgeon;
• Handles all specimens appropriately to ensure accurate identification/maintenance of specimens;
• Cleans instruments, equipment, and room as appropriate when procedure is completed. Ensures proper disposal of instruments, linen, trash, needles, sponges, and all biomedical waste;
• Assists in the implementation and utilization of the Generic Inventory Package to maintain adequate surgical supplies;
• Assists with preparing daily surgery schedules, ordering case carts, case scheduling duties, telephone calls, entering work orders, and monitoring the OR Front Desk, updating physician preference cards;
• Functions as an expert resource for equipment set-up, operation, and maintenance. Troubleshoots equipment as needed;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 6:30am - 5:00pm or 8:30am - 7:00pm, Flexibility as needed

Compressed/Flexible: n/a

Telework: n/a

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Position Description Title/PD#: Health Aid and Technician (Surgical Technician)/PD066160

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

US Department of Veterans Affairs