Medical Technician - Phlebotomist

Summary

This position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) - Veterans Health Administration (VHA) - VA Medical Center - Hines - IL.

About the Role

The primary purpose of this position is to perform a variety of functions - including performing phlebotomy for routine and emergency requests; test a variety of patients. The position also requires performance of a variety of computers - customer service - instruction - and communication tasks.

Responsibilities

• Follows procedures for patient identification - sample procurement - and specimen labeling
• Performs routine venipuncture specimen collections from patients
• Follows laboratory procedures for collecting specimens in the appropriate container
• Controls the physical condition of samples and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained
• Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques
• Prepares samples for testing to include labeling - centrifugation - decanting and aliquoting - etc
• Maintains adequate supplies for all phlebotomy and specimen procurement procedures
• Answers incoming calls for the laboratory service - finding and relaying accurate information or referring the caller to technical personnel
• Performs standard diagnostic tests/procedures such as bleeding time - occult blood - urine dipstick - pregnancy test - fingerstick glucose
• Sterilizes on the autoclave - and cleans glassware and other reusable items
• Identifies and appropriately responds to adverse reactions such as fainting - nausea - vomiting - convulsions - and arrests
• Performs other related duties as assigned

Requirements

• ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Selective Placement Factor (skill - knowledge - ability or other worker characteristics basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job): Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients.

Qualifications

• To qualify for this position at the GS-4 level - you must meet one of the following:
• EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of general experience - and six (6) months of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position - and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled?
• Specialized experience is: (a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical - microbiologic - hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field - e.g. - biological laboratory technician work that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled.
• Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week.
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of (a) an associate-degree course of study of which the 2nd year of the 2-year program included successful completion of a training course of approximately a year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; (b) 1 year of study that included 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences - plus successful completion of (a) a full-time training course of approximately a year's duration in a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) school that included instruction in chemistry - hematology - blood banking - and microbiology (including serology) and that - in addition - included supervised laboratory practice incident to the diagnostic process and the treatment of patients; or (c) 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours of chemistry and/or biological science course work that must have been directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled?
• (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application)
• COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and specialized experience - as described above.
• Note: only education in excess of the first 30 semester hours of a course of study leading to an associate's degree creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. One full academic year of study - or 30 semester hours - beyond the first year is equivalent to 6 months of specialized experience.
• (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application)

Computer Skills

Computer typing skills are required to appropriately input patient test requests - properly queue reports and collection labels - and for the monitoring of CR T's and printers for proper operation.

Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)

Answers incoming calls for the laboratory service - finding and relaying accurate information or referring the caller to technical personnel.

Patient Care

Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques.

Specimen Collection

Performs routine venipuncture specimen collections from patients.

Physical Requirements

Approximately 60% of the work performed is accomplished in a standing or "bending" position while performing phlebotomy/processing procedures. Lifting and carrying of trays - specimens and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds is required. Approximately 40% of the time is spent sitting - reaching - and walking in the performance of phlebotomy and processing duties.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday Full - Time - 7:00am- 3:30pm

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives

Not authorized

Critical Skills Incentive (CSI)

Not approved

Designated Drug-Testing Position

Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.