Surgical Technician

Veterans Health Administration

Gainesville, FL

JobSummary

The Surgical Technician is a member of the surgical team and provides assistance to the surgeon and other team members during surgical procedures. The Surgical Technician participates with the surgical team members in planning and implementing complex procedures under the general supervision of the surgical team. Incumbent is a Surgical Technologists within the Operating Rooms (OR) at North Florida South Georgia Veterans Health Administration.

LowGrade

HighGrade

PromotionPotential

SubAgencyName

Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

OrganizationCodes

VA/VATA

Relocation

False

HiringPath

public
fed-internal-search

MCOTags

TotalOpenings

AgencyMarketingStatement

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military & for their families, caregivers, and survivors. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans? The North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System serves veterans across a large geographical area in North Florida - 33 counties & South Georgia - 19 counties. In addition to our 2 medical centers in Gainesville & Lake City, we offer a number of services to our patients in several satellite outpatient clinics and community-based outpatient clinics. The Malcom Randall VA Medical Center (VAMC) is one of two VAMCs in the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System. The Malcom Randall VAMC provides a full range of comprehensive health care, including: primary care, specialty care, tertiary care & long-term care. The VA has adopted Core Values & Characteristics that apply universally across the Department. The five Core Values define "who we are" our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries. The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence ("I CARE"). As a VA professional, your opportunities are endless. With many openings in the multiple functions of VA, you will have a wide range of opportunities & leadership positions at your fingertips. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

TravelCode

ApplyOnlineUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/Apply

DetailStatusUrl

https://apply.usastaffing.gov/Application/ApplicationStatus

MajorDuties

MAJOR DUTIES are but not limited to: Handles the instruments, supplies, & equipment during all surgical procedures to include extremely complex procedures independently Independently sets up sterile field with all necessary items for each procedure such as air-powered equipment, fiber optic equipment, laparoscopic equipment, microscopes, lasers, arthroscopy equipment, urologic equipment, complex recording devices, and OR tables & accessories. Prepares, organizes, and maintains highly complex sterile set ups. Skillfully drapes operative area Responsible for vigilant observation of the maintenance of aseptic technique and an environment conducive to the welfare of the surgical patient Utilizes Standard Precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures when handling specimens, supplies & equipment In concert with the circulating nurse & other members of the surgical team, assists with care of the surgical patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, preparation of necessary supplies & equipment to include catheters, dilators, heart valves, shunts, pacemakers, total joints & other prostheses Responsible for correct identification & proper handling of all surgical specimens passed off from the surgical field Responsible for performing; with the circulating nurse, the sponge, sharp and instrument counts to verify accuracy. Responsible for the accountability of all sterile surgical instruments and equipment during the surgical procedure Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples and cutting suture in addition to his/her other responsibilities Accepts assignment to more complex surgical specialty teams & assists RN with organization, inventory, and maintenance of instruments & equipment, which frequently requires collaboration with members of other services such as SPS, anesthesia, & surgeons. Assists in the maintenance of Physician Preference cards & Instrument count sheets and inventory Communicates independently & effectively with patients and staff to include relaying of messages, sharing of ideas, reporting of unusual situations, performing errands & making out requests and reports If incumbent works at the Gainesville Division, he/she will take On Call assignments, as required, based on unit and specialty needs Maintains the general OR area. Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions. Observes, recognizes & reports safety hazards in the Operating Rooms (e.g. frayed cords, water on floor) and takes corrective action Provides guidance & support to Nursing assistants, Clerical Staff, and other Surgical Technicians When providing patient care, employee will consider the age of the patient and the impact his/her age has on his/her ability to understand directions and to provide input into their own care. Makes every effort to provide comfort, stability and peace of mind for surgical patients to decrease preoperative anxiety Transports patients to & from the surgical suite using knowledge of safety measures to protect patients and personnel. Alert to and promptly reports changes in patient condition to appropriate staff member Assists surgical team members in quality improvement activities. Updates personal knowledge regarding current trends in surgical technology through continuing education courses Work Schedule: 10 hour shift 730a-6:00p Monday - Friday with rotating days off. Call expectation may include - not limited to: off hours, weekends, & holidays. Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing assistance in lifting & positioning patients. There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching & prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments for the surgeon. Incumbent must be dexterous in passing instruments to surgeons without compromising principles of aseptic technique & in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon. Appropriate scrub attire is required, including sterile gown & gloves, surgical caps to cover incumbent's hair, appropriate eye protection & surgical mask in order to provide an aseptic environment in the operating room. If incumbent is assisting with a total joint replacement, he/she is often required wear special attire, which may be confining, such as a "space helmet" or hood. Incumbent may need to wear X-Ray protective lead attire - up to 20 pounds in weight for prolonged periods of time. May be required to wear special respirator mask in the presence of highly contagious airborne pathogens such as tuberculosis. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification & performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level

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.

Requirements

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. 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 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. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Evaluations

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.

HowToApply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 04/17/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12902798. 1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. 2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. You may check the status of your application at any time by logging into your USA Jobs account and clicking on Applications. Information regarding your application status can be found in the USAJobs Help Center. To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete. DOCUMENT REMINDER: Failure to submit a complete application packet could cause you to be made ineligible. Remember to submit a SF-50 (if you are a current VA/Federal employee), proof of passing the PANCE, certificates/registrations, transcripts and anything else required by the vacancy announcement to show that you qualify for this position. Failure to submit your most recent SF-50, certification/registration, transcript(s), etc. may make you ineligible for this position (even facility employees). To obtain your SF-50s, VA employees may access your eOPF (electronic Official Personnel Folder) by going to: https://eopf.opm.gov/va/. All other Federal employees must contact your serving HR Office for assistance assessing your eOPF. It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit the appropriate documentation to prove your eligibility and/or qualifications. See the vacancy announcement for specific details on what you need to submit. Please contact Human Resources should you have questions or need assistance with these documents

WhatToExpectNext

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.

RequiredDocuments

Documents Accepted: Cover Letter License Other (1) Professional Certification Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Documents Required: Resume Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application. Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted. Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position. Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application. RESUME/CV REMINDER: Your resume/CV must include the following information for each job/position listed: Job title Occupational Series and Grade (if a Federal position); Duties (be as detailed as possible) Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008) Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week) NOTE: Please be aware that your answers will be verified against information provided on your resume. Be sure that your resume clearly supports your responses to all of the questions by addressing your work experience in detail. Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications. To ensure you receive appropriate consideration, please list the duties you performed under each individual job title. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.

Benefits

BenefitsUrl

http://www.vacareers.va.gov/why-choose-va/benefits/index.asp

OtherInformation

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act. 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 and request information about the Alternate Application process, please contact the Agency Contact listed for this Job Opportunity Announcement (JOA).

KeyRequirements

WithinArea

False

CommuteDistance

ServiceType

AnnouncementClosingType

AgencyContactEmail

leslie.evans2@va.gov

AgencyContactPhone

813-816-7155 X100187

SecurityClearance

Not Required