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Orthopedic Technician

Veterans Health Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs

Open to the publicPermanentFull-time
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Salary
$52,783 – $68,620/yr
Pay grade
GS 7
Openings
1
Posted
Jun 10, 2026
Closes
Closes in 10 days

Summary

The Orthopedic Patient Care Assistant is responsible for removing sutures from wounds, applying antiseptic and anti-bacterial ointment, redressing and recasting. and applying and removing various types of casts, checking if circulation is being impeded, preparing preoperatively by bi-valving casts or windowing them for exposure of wounds. Maintains, cleans and regularly checks portable carts with all equipment needed anywhere in the hospital.

Duties

Major duties include but are not limited to:
  • Applies and removes various types of casts, checking periodically to ascertain whether or not circulation is being impeded.
  • Removes sutures from wound, applies antiseptic and antibacterial ointment, redresses, and recast if indicated.
  • Responds to all patient needs in a courteous manner and assures that the appropriate documentation needed to capture workload is completed while maintaining confidentiality of patient Information.
  • Provides instruction to patient on the patients' role in various procedures covering information previously supplied by other members of the health team.
  • Records vital signs, obtains and labels specimens for the lab, and assists the provider with a variety of diagnostic examinations by positioning and draping patients, and assists with instruments as directed.
  • Initiates emergency procedures for which the employee is trained i.e., cardiopulmonary arrest, behavior code, code green, code yellow, fire, etc.) with no supervision immediately after identifying the emergency situation.
  • Performs Order Entry duties from provider order sheets, performs clerical duties including typing, taking minutes and others assigned.
  • Participates in improving organizational performance activities. Cooperates with team members.
  • Attends and signs in at in-services on new equipment and/or equipment that is changed or has demonstrated a hazard. Completes all assignments with minimum supervision.
  • Sets up, maintains, cleans, and regularly checks a portable cart with equipment needed for emergency orthopedic procedures anywhere in the hospital.
  • Always properly identifies the patient, verifies that all medical records and x-rays are available for visits, prepares examining rooms for patient, assists in undressing and dressing patients if assistance is needed.
  • Provides assistance in seeing that the list of no-show patients is reviewed and rescheduled as appropriate.
  • Reports non-emergent patient concerns and conditions to RN Team Leader. Responds to all patient needs in a courteous manner.
  • Adheres to established lines of authority and communication; consistently discussing suggestions, special requests, problems, or complaints initially with team leader.
  • Reports to team leader upon leaving and returning from breaks and meals, completes mandatory review information as required and assigned.
  • Demonstrates competence according to Safety and Emergency policy/procedure with limited supervision, Reports all accidents to Supervisor at time of occurrence.
Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday - Friday
Position Description Title/PD#: Orthopedic Technician/PD01870A

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

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 level. 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 of GS 6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include: Applies and removes various types of casts, prepares preoperatively by bi-valving cases or windowing them for exposure of wounds. Removing sutures from wounds, applying antiseptic and anti-bacterial ointment, redressing and recasting. Maintaining, cleaning and regularly checking portable carts with all equipment needed for an emergency orthopedic procedure anywhere in the hospital. Perform a wide range of diagnostic support duties which include taking and recording vital signs, obtaining and labeling specimens for the lab and assisting the provider in a variety of diagnostic examinations by positioning and draping patients, and assisting with instruments as needed. OR,
  • Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have One full year of graduate education meets the requirements for GS-7.NOTE: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. OR,
  • Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond Bachelors. NOTE: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.
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: This work activity will involve lifting, pulling, bending, pushing, walking, and standing; working with equipment and devices that are capable of producing injury to the employee or the patient.

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/.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.

If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

Requirements

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents).
  • Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
Beginning September 27, 2025, Federal agencies will only accept resumes up to two pages in length to comply with the Merit Hiring Plan. Resumes longer than two pages will result in ineligibility for further consideration for the position. USAJOBS will not allow you to upload or build resumes longer than two pages, and you will need to update the resumes in your profile before applying for a job. Resumes should include information relevant to the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies of the position to which you are applying. VA is unable to make assumptions about qualifications if not clearly listed.

Resumes must be legible so they can be reviewed for eligibility, minimum qualifications and other position requirements listed in the job announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trail period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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Source: USAJOBS / U.S. Office of Personnel Management. HealthJobsFinderUSA is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM or USAJOBS.

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