Job Information
Defense Health Agency Operating Room Nursing Assistant (Surgical Technician) in JBSA Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Overview
Operating Room Nursing Assistant (Surgical Technician) Joint Base San Antonio
Time to invest in some new footwear because if you’re San Antonio-bound, you’d better show up in boots ! The Alamo City is one of the military’s most envied postings and is often referred to as “Military City USA”. Low cost of living, affordable homes, and the lack of state tax on retirement income are a few financial perks to living and retiring in this Texas city. A robust job market that seems partial to government and defense/security contracting ensures employment opportunities for spouses or transitioning service members. San Antonio is the country’s seventh fastest growing city yet has somehow managed to retain a “small town feel.” Quality schools and friendly locals (most with military ties) are additional perks to living in San Antonio.
Some things you should know before you get here: trucks are the norm (the bigger, the better), love for The Spurs (NBA) runs deep, the H-E-B obsession is real (it’s a grocery store), rodeos are life, and don’t call it “San Antone”—that’s just wrong. The community boasts a vibrant Hispanic population, and enhances everything from the food, to the music, to community events. You don’t necessarily need to speak Spanish to get around, but you’d better know how to say barbacoa, tamales, and cascarones.
Name brand shopping (IKEA is the latest arrival of note), restaurants, and all variety of entertainment all add to San Antonio’s quality of life. SeaWorld, the San Antonio Zoo, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and downtown museums are all fun outings for kids and families. Tube or kayak down a river, play or fish in the lakes, or relax by San Antonio’s famous downtown River Walk. Museums, art galleries, and historical landmarks— remember The Alamo? —round out San Antonio’s cultural offerings. Tex-mex cuisine arguably originated here, and some up and coming culinary trendsetters are making a name for themselves in the Pearl District downtown, alongside several notable breweries.
San Antonio has over 300 days of sunshine with some hot summers, mild winters and pleasant spring and fall seasons. San Antonio is in Bexar County (it’s pronounced “BEAR”) in south central Texas, and is just south of the gorgeous Hill Country. It’s only about two hours from Austin, the beach, or the desert.
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.
Responsibilities
MAJOR DUTIES:
Scrub Technician: As a scrub technician, selects, assembles, and organizes required supplies,equipment, and instruments for specific surgical procedure in accordance with operative worksheets, physician preference cards and/or conferring with physicians or charge nurse. Handsinstruments to the surgeon during the procedure by anticipating the surgeon's needs. Maintainsalertness for complications developing during surgery such as hemorrhage, shock and cardiac arrest and immediately supplies instruments, drugs, and supplies to correct the condition. Takes sponge,instrument, and sharp counts; measures blood and fluid loss. Assists with application of dressings.Surgical assistant actively engages in the manipulation of tissue with the proper instruments bothintuitively by previous experience and by direction of the surgeon to facilitate and make possiblethe successful completion of the given procedure.
Circulator Assistant: As a circulator assistant, obtains sterile supplies, sutures, dressings, linens,etc., for the specific procedure; opens instrument sets, pours solutions, sets up and adjustequipment such as electric coagulator, electric bone saw, operating microscope, air power drills,defibrillators and resuscitators; makes suction connections and adjusts operating lights. Obtainssupplies needed during surgery such as blood, drugs, solutions, instruments, and additional sterilesupplies; prepares specimens for laboratory; properly labels specimens; takes specimens to thelaboratory; records designated data on patient log. Responsible for aseptic techniques maintenanceduring the process of preparing for and assisting in the surgical procedure.
Operating Room Maintenance:
a. Cleans operating room after surgery, removes and disposes of soiled and/or contaminatedmaterials; changes linen; washes, disassembles, sterilizes, and reassembles instruments. Removesgross contamination, soil, blood, tissue fragments, body fluids by wiping, soaking, rinsing,scrubbing, and operates various kind of equipment such as ultrasonic cleaner and washer sterilizers.Replenishes sterile packs and general supplies and restocks shelves after taking stock levelinventory. Required to perform medical supply technician duties on a routine basis. In the absenceof housekeeping personnel, mops and disinfects all equipment in the operating room suites. Sets upand performs first echelon maintenance on all operating room equipment.
b. Selects appropriate methods for sterilizing, balancing time constraints with possible detrimentaleffects of quicker methods. Tests operation of equipment daily to ensure effectiveness andparameters of sterilization are met. Removes items from pre-sterilizers and reassembles trays bysize and sets based on inventory needs and instrument sets card. Arranges instruments in the traysin the correct manner. Removes items from sterilizers; inspects packages for indications of propersterilization, aerating packages, labeling items to show date of sterilization, load number and shelflife. Stores items in such a way to preserve the sterile condition. Assembles operating room cartsaccording to the schedule. Required to clean all autoclaves in the section on weekends, run sporetest daily, and keep documentation in records in compliance with Joint Commission AccreditationHospital Organization and Infection Control Standards and as Quality Assurance for patient safetyand tracking mechanisms.
c. Orients and trains newly assigned personnel and students; explains operating room proceduresand requirements; identifies and explains use of surgical instruments and equipment, sterilizationtechniques and aseptic procedures. Gives and receives in-service training in new technology,equipment, instruments, and new techniques.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
US Citizenship required
This is a drug test designated position.
Position requires a pre-employment physical.
Position requires rotating shifts, weekend and holiday work.
Position has a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination.
Position requires a child care background investigation.
Position requires immunization screening.
Position requires a current BLS and/or ACLS certification.
Position requires prolonged periods of standing, stooping, and moderate lifting up to 40 pounds.
Notes:
- This position is subject to drug testing if the incumbent:
Has direct patient contact or performs diagnostic or therapeutic functions
Extracts or works with patients' body fluids or tissues; prepares patient specimens for examination, performs specialized or non-routine tests on body fluids or tissue samples, or confirms patients' test results
Maintains, stores, safeguards, inputs, fills or distributes drugs and medicines
This position has a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination requirement and is therefore subject to annual seasonal influenza vaccinations. Applicants tentatively selected for appointment to this position will be required to sign a statement (Condition of Employment) consenting to seasonal influenza vaccinations.
Apply for this Job Online (https://careers-civilianmedicaljobs.icims.com/jobs/8254/operating-room-nursing-assistant-%28surgical-technician%29/job?mode=apply&apply=yes&in_iframe=1&hashed=-336268516)
Location US-TX-JBSA Fort Sam Houston
Job ID 2024-8254
Category Medical
Recruitment Bonus Negotiable
Relocation Assistance No
Student Loan Repayment No