Career Center

Summary

This position is located within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the Manchester VA Medical Center in Manchester - NH. The Medical Technician - Phlebotomy has various responsibilities and is assigned to different areas of the laboratory on a rotational basis.

Qualifications

English Language Proficiency Requirement: 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. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to perform the duties of this position. ~AND~ This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill - knowledge - ability - or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. ~AND~ The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: "Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients." In addition to the English Language Proficiency and Selective Placement Factor - to qualify for this position at the GS-5 level - you must meet one of the following requirements: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Medical Technician - Phlebotomy - 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 and/or (b) technical support work in a closely related field - e.g. - biological laboratory technician work that required application of the methods and techniques of a phlebotomist. At this level - specialized experience should include experience performing a variety of relatively standardized tests - examinations - and determinations. The procedures and techniques are well-established but involve many meticulous sequential steps to complete a test; and following written procedures which give carefully detailed instructions on each step of the assigned test and examinations. NOTE: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates - AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree - with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the Medical Technician - Phlebotomy position which may include clinical hematology - clinical laboratory practices - phlebotomy practicum - clinical microbiology - clinical practicum - or special topics in the Medical Laboratory Technology field. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school - junior college - college - or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours - 45 quarter hours - or the equivalent in a college - or university - or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience - as listed above - may be used to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the Medical Technician - Phlebotomy position such as clinical hematology - clinical laboratory practices - phlebotomy practicum - clinical microbiology - clinical practicum - or special topics in the Medical Laboratory Technology field. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school - junior college - college - or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: SPECIMEN COLLECTION COMPUTER SKILLS CUSTOMER SERVICE PATIENT CARE QUALITY ASSURANCE IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. 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. 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; religious; 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. Physical Requirements: Physical demands may involve lifting - standing - walking - bending - or sitting - any of which may be required for prolonged periods of time. The person in the position must be able to communicate verbally and have the digital dexterity and adequate vision to perform safe venipuncture procedures. Lifting will not exceed weight of 40 pounds. The person in the position will utilize all safety practices and equipment required by the laboratory - facility policy - accrediting and regulatory agencies for purposes of ensuring compliance with occupational safety requirements. 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/.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The major duties include but are not limited to: 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
• Performs sterilization 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
• Follows all safety procedures and procedures outlined in the safety and infection control manuals for handling blood and body fluids - keeps work area clean - uncluttered - and decontaminated
• Performs electrocardiograms (EKGs) and acts on all abnormal EKGs discovered - reporting them to the appropriate provider
• and - Performs all other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Rotating day shift
• 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
• Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved