What are the responsibilities and job description for the Surgical Technician position at Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center?
The Surgical Technician (ST) 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.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 6:45am-3:15pm or 2:30pm-11:00pm. Includes on-call and weekends. Subject to change due to needs of the facility.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD04157A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are in stages of unconsciousness. There are extensive period of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching and prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon. 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. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
Qualifications:
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/28/2026.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-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: experience in an operating room; knowledge to scrub and assist independently in the surgical specialties (i.e., Cardiac, transplant, orthopedic, neurological); knowledge of medical instruments, human anatomy, physiology and aseptic technic to prepare and protect sterile field during surgery; sterile technique to include sterilizer operations and tests to determine the effectiveness of sterilization, packaging, storage, and shelf life; handling medical instruments, supplies and equipment during all surgical procedures; performing proper cleaning techniques, as well as the proper handling and rotation of sterile supplies; handling contaminated items, quality control, and personal hygiene, using knowledge of universal precautions and implementing infection control policies and procedures
Responsibilities:
The Surgical Technician Major Duties include but are not limited to:- Function as a primary scrub person responsible for handling instruments, supplies and equipment.
- Set up sterile field with all required items for each procedure.
- Plan and discuss each procedure with surgical team to ensure all supplies and equipment are available prior to surgical procedures.
- Prepare, organize and maintain highly complex sterile surgical setups.
- Observe, respond promptly and anticipate the needs of the surgeon during surgical procedures.
- Assist with care of the patient, i.e., positioning, prepping, obtaining supplies and transportation to and from the operating room.
- Provides patient information to the RN/Anesthesia Team for inclusion in the patient's plan of care.
- Handle all specimens appropriately, including labeling, keeping organized on table and transporting to lab.
- Assist with preparing skin grafts, suctioning, holding retractors, applying skin stables and cutting sutures.
- Prepare prosthesis and surgical devices during procedures.
- Performs non-technical maintenance of equipment to prevent malfunctions.
- Assists in training residents, medical students, nursing students, operating room technology students, and new Operating Room staff in the operation of equipment, sterile technique, handling of instruments, and OR procedures to include the scrub role in surgical procedures.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 6:45am-3:15pm or 2:30pm-11:00pm. Includes on-call and weekends. Subject to change due to needs of the facility.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Surgical Technician/PD04157A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Physical Requirements: Duties regularly require providing manual assistance in lifting and positioning patients, most of which are in stages of unconsciousness. There are extensive period of regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, lifting, pushing, reaching and prolonged stretching to provide easy accessibility of instruments and supplies for the surgeon. 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. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
Salary : $66,814