Summary

The Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center is a tertiary care teaching hospital providing the highest level quality for more than 75 -000 Veterans along the South Carolina and Georgia coast. The Ralph H. Johnson VA is rated is the second fastest growing VA in the U.S. for percentage patient growth. For the past three years - the Charleston VA has been rated a 5-Star medical center for quality and efficiency - the highest possible rating according to VA's Strategic Analytics.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 09/25/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. The grade may have been in any occupation - but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year - it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade - as required by the announcement. In this instance - you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Knowledge of surgical procedures that enable the technician to anticipate surgeon needs - prepare ahead and contribute to positive patient outcome . Knowledge of and skill with - equipment and implants utilized in all surgical specialties. Use of interpersonal communication skills critical to the interaction with health care team Members - patient and family - peers - students - and other hospital departments. Able to apply aseptic or sterile technique in all phases of surgery: preparing the Operating Room - establishing - and maintaining a sterile field - sterilization of equipment and supplies and guiding students in the development of "surgical conscience." Knowledge of a wide range of instrumentation for all surgical specialties. Able to recognize emergent complications such as hemorrhage - ability to remain calm and react in a correct - therapeutic manner. Knowledge of normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology of all systems - how these systems interact and what impact surgical intervention has on these systems. OR - Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education (18 semester hours) or an internship in course matter that must include courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position such as anatomy and physiology - surgical technology - aseptic techniques - etc.. (This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation.). OR - Combination: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience - as described above - which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. The education portion must include graduate courses directly related to the work of the Surgical Technician position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited college or university. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience - including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g. - Peace Corps - AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g. - professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies - knowledge - and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience - including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients - most of who are at stages of unconsciousness. There are extensive periods of regular and recurring standing - walking - bending - lifting - pushing - reaching - and prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon. The Surgical Technician must be dexterous in passing instruments to surgeons without compromising principles of aseptic technique and in a manner requiring little or no effort from the surgeon. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• This position is located in the Operating Room (OR) and is part of Nursing service at the Ralph H
• Johnson VA Medical Center
• The Surgical Technician will work as a team member under the direct supervision of the Nurse Manager or designee to perform a range of duties before during and after patient procedures
• The incumbent will assist the physicians - registered nurses and other health care team members in operative procedures and in the care of the surgical patients.Major duties include but not limited to: Work and communicate with nurses - doctors - and other medical and ancillary staff
• Plan and discuss procedure with surgical team and assures all supplies and equipment are available
• Prepare - organize - and maintain highly complex surgical setups
• Assist team members by providing direct patient care - i.e
• positioning - prepping
• Set up sterile field with all required items - i.e
• air-powered - endoscopic - laparoscopic - arthroscopic - urologic equipment - microscopes - drills - staplers - etc
• Handle instruments - supplies - and equipment during surgical procedures for all specialties: Gynecology - Otolaryngology - Ophthalmology - Podiatry - Urology - General - Cardiovascular - Cardiothoracic - Major Vascular - Plastic - Oral - Robotic - and Orthopedic surgery
• Lift - move - transfer - and transport patients as needed
• Initiate CPR according to AHA standards
• Observe and respond 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
• Utilize Universal Precautions and follows all infection control policies and procedures
• Prepare prosthesis and surgical devices according to manufacturer's recommendations during procedures
• Handle specimens appropriately
• Responsible for the accountability of surgical instruments and equipment
• Performs sponge - sharp - and instrument counts along with the circulating nurse
• Assist with the orientation of new operating room staff
• Check instruments and equipment prior to use for sterility and/or proper functioning
• Assess equipment needs and maintains adequate stock of supplies and materials
• Recognize potentially hazardous situations - i.e
• frayed cords and takes corrective action
• Assist surgical team members with quality improvement activities
• Update personal knowledge regarding current trends in surgical technology through in-services and continuing education
• Perform other ancillary duties as assigned (of a related nature)
• Work Schedule: 7:00 am -5:30 pm - four days per week - alternating days off (Will be required to be on call)
• Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD07609ARelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation/Recruitment Incentive is approved for 15%.Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required