Surgical Technician

JobSummary

This is an Open Continuous Announcement (OCA) open until 2/27/2026 for Surgical Technician located at the Puget Sound VA Health Care System. Qualified applicants will be considered and referred to the hiring manager at regular intervals until the position is filled or as additional vacancies occur. NOTE: This announcement has been extended to 4/30/2026.

LowGrade

7

HighGrade

7

PromotionPotential

None

SubAgencyName

Puget Sound VA Health Care System

OrganizationCodes

VA/VATA

Relocation

False

HiringPath

• fed-transition
• public

MCOTags

TotalOpenings

1

AgencyMarketingStatement

OUR MISSION: - "To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors". How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans? VA Puget Sound Healthcare System (VAPSHCS) is a Level 1a major interdisciplinary teaching healthcare system with two divisions and multiple community-based outpatient clinics (CBOC). It is considered the most complex VA healthcare system nationwide. VAPSHCS has both Urgent Care and Emergency services, and a full complement of specialty medical, surgical, psychiatric, critical care, and rehabilitation service-lines. VAPSHCS houses two Community Living Centers, a Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, Blind Rehabilitation, Domiciliary, and Home-Based Primary Care Services. https://visitseattle.org/ The VA has adopted Core Values and 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 and 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

0

ApplyOnlineUrl

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

DetailStatusUrl

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

MajorDuties

• This position is within the Surgical Care Line at Puget Sound VA Health Care System located in Seattle, Washington. The Surgical Scrub Technician (SST) provides patient care and assistance to the Registered Nurse (RN) and surgeons, and is under the direct supervision of an RN. The SST is responsible for preparation of the operating room for a variety of simple to major surgical procedures with a thorough knowledge of sets of instruments, equipment and supplies. Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Serves as a member of the surgical team in the OR by performing scrub and other support services for simple and major cases. Plans and discusses each procedure with surgical professionals and assures that all supplies and equipment are available prior to the surgical procedure. Anticipates the surgeon's needs for instruments, equipment and supplies via surgeon's case preference cards, training as a surgical technician, and familiarity with hospital and OR policies and procedures. Handles instruments, supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures such as open heart, thoracic, major vascular, neurosurgery, microsurgery, total joint procedures, and robotic surgery. Passes instruments and observes and responds promptly to each stage of the surgical procedures and anticipates the needs of the surgeon by maintaining a high level of concentration for extended periods of time. Utilizes sterile techniques as per hospital, OR, and AORN guidelines. Follows directions for performing OR policy for sponge, needle, and instrument count. Follows infection control policies and procedures. Maintains, cares and labels surgical specimens. Assists the RN on care of the patient (i.e. positioning, prepping, as needed). Assists the surgeon by performing such procedures as preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin staples, and cutting sutures, preparation of prosthesis and surgical devices and preparing sterile dressings. Follows infection control policies and procedures. Recognizes and helps initiate actions during emergency situations including cardiopulmonary resuscitation when appropriate. Stocking replenishing, and preparing supplies and equipment for use. Assists other members of the team with room clean up in readiness for next patient. Assists the RN with receiving surgical patients into the OR and ensuring safety of the patient at all times. Promptly reports any change in the patient's condition to the RN. Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, surgical technologist students, and new operating room staff in the operation of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments and OR procedures. Provides emotional support and comfort measures specific for each patient to alleviate concerns and fears Properly answers telephone calls and directs call to the appropriate person. Generating and maintaining case cart and preference card lists. Working with vendors and support personnel for procurement of specific instrumentation needed for a case. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm, On-call status required Position Description Title/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD40972A Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized for highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Physical Requirements:Work involves potentially extended periods of standing, walking and reaching. Trays of instruments and stock weighing as much as 25 pounds must be lifted and carried short distance, and wearing x-ray aprons. The SST must be able to use both hands to handle or feel objects with dexterity and strength to manipulate delicate instruments and equipment. The SST must have adequate hearing and speech to effectively communicate with other personnel and patients. Carts on rollers must be transported within the OR and from department to department within the hospital. The SST assists with transferring and transporting patients most of which are in stages of unconsciousness. The volume and rapid pace of work, interruptions, and emergency nature of some tasks may cause high levels of stress for the employee. Work Environment: The majority of work is performed in the OR. The SST must wear hospital supplied surgical scrubs, hair cover and eye protection while on duty in the OR. There is the potential for frequent exposure to toxic gases, hazardous chemicals, exposure, blood and body fluids, laser beams requiring special safety precautions, radiation, air-powered equipment, and a variety of electrical equipment that requires special safety precautions. Work potentially involves the wearing of attire such as a hood in total joint replacements. The SST in this position is regularly exposed to infectious diseases. Occasionally, patients undergoing treatment can be verbally or physically abusive, particularly those suffering from mental illness.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing your qualifications on 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. 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 (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

Requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 Subject to a background/suitability investigation 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) 5 CFR 330.502 - General restriction on movement after competitive appointment applies. 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. 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. Resume Reminder - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed: Job title 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) Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held 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. Recommended: 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. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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 04/30/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12841800. 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.

WhatToExpectNext

This is an open continuous announcement. 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. Referred applicants will be notified as such and may be contacted directly by the hiring office for an interview. All referred applicants receive a final notification once a selection decision has been made. NOTE: This job announcement has been amended to update a change in bargaining unit status. The AFGE Collective Bargaining Agreement was reinstated pursuant a Memorandum and Order (Order) issued by the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island. Per OCHCO bulletin Revised 4/2/2026

RequiredDocuments

Documents Accepted: Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) Other (1) PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 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.

Benefits

BenefitsUrl

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

OtherInformation

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 or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. NOTE: Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

KeyRequirements

WithinArea

False

CommuteDistance

0

ServiceType

01

AnnouncementClosingType

01

AgencyContactEmail

jaimie.tappert@va.gov

AgencyContactPhone

(503) 220-8262 X31540

SecurityClearance

Not Required

DrugTestRequired

True

PositionSensitivitiy

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

AdjudicationType

• Credentialing
• Suitability/Fitness