Clinical Lab Assistant - Phlebotomist- University Hospital, (1661)

Schedule

Tuesday–Saturday 12:45–21:15 with weekends, holidays, rotating on-call, and other shifts as needed.

About the role

The Clinical Lab Assistant Phlebotomist works independently with minimal supervision and performs one or more identified modalities. Compensation depends on the number of modalities performed. Candidates without experience may enter a paid apprenticeship level. Regular in-person attendance during scheduled hours is essential.

Essential Functions

• Perform duties in a professional and courteous manner.
• Maintain supplies and inventory for departmental functions.
• Observe students and/or new staff as needed.
• Exhibit basic problem-solving skills to ensure exceptional customer and patient care.
• Handle hospital communication responsibilities, including on-call duties during scheduled hours (cell phone by location).
• Demonstrate effective telephone and verbal communication skills.
• Apply professional judgment when dealing with clients, patients, and co-workers.
• Perform clerical functions as needed: document critical communications such as call-ins in the absence of a supervisor.
• Maintain confidentiality of personal and confidential information.
• Participate in on-call coverage to meet service levels and cover holidays, evenings, and weekends as required.
• Possess basic PC skills.

Modalities

• Check-in and Order Entry/Reconciliation (Clinical, Anatomic, Research, Referral Testing) including patient identification, electronic order reconciliation, manual entry, and insurance/payment handling.
• General Phlebotomy (ages 10 and above) using vacutainer, butterfly, and syringe collections.
• Special Collections and/or external shipping certification (arterial blood gas, pediatric and infant draws, sweat collection, breath collections, occupational health/drug screen collections, MRSA and COVID collections, therapeutic phlebotomies).
• Assist with provider-performed procedures (FNA, Bone Marrow, EBUS, Bronchial lavage).
• Specimen Processing (receipt, sorting, delivery/loading, decanting, retrieval for send-out testing, surgical sample triage, storage, and disposal).
• Non-conformity investigation/Problem Resolution (e.g., Problem Desk, TLC, NCE responses) with proper documentation.
• Lab Equipment Maintenance and/or support (superuser), including chemical and biohazard waste management for non-testing instrumentation (cryostats and stainline).
• Sample Testing (waived to moderate) including instrument maintenance, biohazard disposal, QC, result review, and problem resolution.
• Consistent training and/or assisting in competency assessments for modalities and students.
• Department-specific skilled technical assistance such as BB-Product prep (irradiating units, thawing cryo and plasma, splitting plasma and platelets).
• Infectious Disease: planting patient specimens including tissue and bone processing (grinding and cutting), plate inoculation, knowledge of anaerobic versus aerobic incubation requirements.
• Genetics and Cytometry: nucleic acid extraction, cell culture and harvesting, renal transplant kit oversight, patient testing scheduling and monitoring.
• Histology and Cytology: cytology specimen processing, slide preparation and staining; histology specimen processing including bone marrow grossing and tissue-specific processing knowledge.
• TRI Honest Broker: department-specific clerical or support functions such as organizing AP/HP cases, slide distribution, FFPE block and slide filing, material retrieval, case management, client material return, unit allocation, inventory management, and TriBuy training/competency.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Preferred: PBT (ASCP) or equivalent certification.
• Completion of a relevant Clinical Lab Assistant or comparable program.
• Immunization requirements: proof of immunity to Hepatitis B or immunization or signed waiver; PPD test within 90 days of hire or through TriCore.
• In departments/locations with direct patient contact: proof of immunity or eligibility for rubella, rubeola, and varicella immunization.
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record; must be insurable by lab insurance carrier.
• Eligible to work in a healthcare facility per New Mexico Caregivers Criminal History Screening Act or other applicable law.

Experience

Candidates with no training or experience may be considered for an apprenticeship. Selected candidates are placed into CLA Level 1–4 based on the number of modalities completed regularly. Assigned modalities are determined by department leadership.