Health Technician (Surgical) at Defense Health Agency in Tacoma, WA

Overview

Madigan Army Medical Center is seeking a Health Technician (Surgical) to join our growing team!

About the Position: This is a Direct Hire Solicitation

At Madigan you will practice alongside civilian and military health care experts and experience unique professional opportunties. Our staff serves by caring for our military but are not subject to military requirements. We operate within safe staffing standards - giving you time to provide exceptional care.

Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on the Puget Sound, in Washington State, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is near the city of Lakewood, 10 minutes from Tacoma and 20 minutes from Olympia, the state capitol. JBLM is situated in a key location along Interstate 5, allowing easy access to Seattle, Tacoma, and the welcoming neighboring communities. Although the Army and Air Force missions have changed over the years, one thing has not changed—the natural setting of the base. Majestic Mount Rainier looms on the horizon, towering over the other peaks of the Cascade Range. From the mountains to the deep waters of Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean, the local areas abound in natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities. Camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and new sports are a way of life in Washington State.

Working for the Department of Defense comes with an abundance of benefits and perks to include competitive compensation packages, paid-time off, medical benefits, student loan repayments, and retirement package with Thrift Savings Plan to include matching employer contributions. For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/working-in-government/benefits/

Responsibilities

POSITION DUTIES:

• Presurgical Operations (20%):Screens each patient to ensure all requirements are met and transports patients from thehospital units to the operating room. Ensures all have been prepared for surgery, and isalert of any potential signs of respiratory, viral, clinical infection, or skin disorders that maycause any conflicts or issues during the surgical procedure. Positions patients inpreparation for the draping process and follows pre-operative nursing care plan. May berequired to shave the operative site. Selects, assembles, and organizes required supplies,equipment, and instruments in accordance with operative work sheets, physicianpreference cards and/or conferring with physicians or charge nurse. Obtains sterilesupplies, sutures, dressings, linens; opens instrument sets, pours solutions, sets up andadjust equipment such as: electric coagulator, electric bone saw, operating microscope, airpower drills, defibrillators and resuscitators; makes suction connections and adjustsoperating lights.Surgical Operations (20%):Passes instruments to the surgeon and maintains alertness for complications developingduring surgery. The incumbent actively engages in the stabilization of tissue with theproper instruments in collaboration with direction of the surgeon to facilitate andsuccessfully carry out procedures. Assists anesthetist during induction and throughout theprocedure. Obtains supplies needed such as blood, drugs, solutions, instruments, andadditional sterile supplies and prepares, labels and transports specimens to laboratory.Records designated data on patient log and documents information in intraoperativenursing record. Responsible for aseptic techniques maintenance during the process ofpreparing for/assisting in the surgical procedure.Postsurgical Operations (20%):Conducts sponge, sharps, and instrument counts with the charge nurse, verifying totalcount at end of surgical procedures or change of personnel. Measures blood and fluid lossand assists with application of dressings.Equipment and Operating Maintenance (40%):Cleans operating room post-surgery, removes and disposes of soiled and/or contaminatedmaterials; changes linen; washes, disassembles, sterilizes, and reassembles instruments.Removes gross contamination, soil, blood, tissue fragments, and operates varioussterilizing equipment. Replenishes sterile packs and general supplies and restocks shelvesas needed. In the absence of housekeeping personnel, mops and disinfects all equipmentin the operating room suites. Sets up and performs first echelon maintenance on alloperating room equipment. Determines best methods for sterilizing and tests operation ofequipment daily to ensure effectiveness and conformance to requirements. Properlyarranges and reassembles medical instrument trays by size and sets based on inventoryneeds/instrument sets card. Removes items from sterilizers as needed; inspects packagesfor indications of proper sterilization and aerates, labels and properly stores packages.Assembles operating room carts as needed. The incumbent cleans all autoclaves in thesection as needed, runs spore test daily, and keeps documentation in records incompliance with Joint Commission Accreditation Hospital Organization and InfectionControl Standards and as Quality Assurance for patient safety and tracking mechanisms.Oversees one of two operating room suites during weekend, evening, and night shiftswhen required. Orients and trains newly assigned personnel and students explainingoperating room procedures and requirements. Gives and receives in-service training in newtechnology, equipment, instruments, and new techniques.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Who May Apply: US Citizens

You must have 1-year of experience and possess all certifications required to perform the duties listed above.