Brooke Army Medical Center, Operating Room Nursing Assistant (Surgical Technician), Fort Sam Houston, Joint Base, San Antonio

Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is the United States Army's premier medical institution. Located on Fort Sam Houston, BAMC is a 425-bed academic medical center, and is the Department of Defense's largest facility and only Level 1 trauma center. BAMC is also home to the Center for the Intrepid, an outpatient rehabilitation facility. The center is composed of ten separate organizations, including community medical clinics, centered around the Army's largest in-patient hospital. BAMC is staffed by more than 8,000 soldiers, airmen, sailors, civilians, and contractors, providing care to wounded service members and the San Antonio community at large.

Brooke Army Medical Center has a history which dates back to 1879 when the first Post Hospital opened as a small medical dispensary located in a single-story wooden building. In 1886, the first permanent hospital was built. In 1908, an 84-bed Station Hospital was constructed on the west side of the post.

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/   

MAJOR DUTIES:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Basic Requirements:

US Citizenship required

This is a drug test designated position.

Position requires a pre-employment physical.

Position may require 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.