The incumbent is assigned to the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center (TVAMC), Diagnostic & Rehabilitation Medicine Service, Laboratory Section. The facility provides comprehensive healthcare services to eligible Veterans in out-patient and in-patient settings. Incumbent performs duties specific to a Medical Technician in the Laboratory Section as well as serving as a courier to transport laboratory specimens from the outreach clinic to the main laboratory at TV AMC. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/25/2022. 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-4 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-3. 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. Qualifications 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. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Grade Requirements: GS-04 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-03 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Phlebotomy work including proper specimen collection by venipuncture collection techniques, proper patient identification, using 2 approved patient identifiers, understanding specimen handling requirements and specimen viability, understanding and processing laboratory orders, provides patient instruction on specimen collections such as random or 24 hour urine collections, sputum collections or other patient collected specimens. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must possess 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 9 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences, plus successful completion of 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 diagnosis 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 Medical Technician position. (Transcripts must be provided). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-4 level. This is computed by determining your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the experience required; then determining your education as a percentage of the education required; then adding the two percentages. The total percentages must equal at least 100% to qualify. To compute the percentage, divide your total months of qualifying experience by 12. Then divide your semester hours of undergraduate education by 60; then add the two percentages together. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. (Transcripts must be provided). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Computer SkillsConflict ManagementConscientiousnessCustomer ServiceHazardous MaterialsOral CommunicationSpecimen CollectionTeamwork 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: Finger dexterity and hand/eye coordination required to perform phlebotomy of patients and to manipulate a variety of laboratory devices such as computerized instruments and computer terminals. May lift or otherwise assists other personnel in positioning patients (avg. 200 lbs.) for routine and emergency procedures, position under/on top of laboratory counters or in instrument cabinets the reagent and supply items, some of which can weigh in excess of 45 pounds also, prolonged periods of standing, walking, pushing, and reaching. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Ability to operate laboratory equipment, computers and other equipment. Must wear personal protective equipment or film badges as required for the designated work area. The work requires some physical exertion, such as walking or bending to collect samples. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. In the laboratory, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination. 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/. ["MEDICAL TECHNICIAN DUTIES Obtains blood and/or urine specimens for analysis. Properly identifies each patient who is to provide\nspecimen(s) using two identifiers as defined by the facilities. Labels specimens according to type of test\nand sorts tests by lab sections. Obtains blood specimen by vernipuncture and /or capillary puncture.\nInsures patients are instructed on the correct collection procedures for urine samples. Distributes all\nblood and urine samples to designated areas. Administers first aid and/or CPR to any patients having an unfavorable reaction. Appropriately\nidentifies need and calls for medical emergency as indicated. Recognizes individuals requiring special\nassistance and provides assistance accordingly. Records appropriate patient and result information in\nsection work-lists in accordance with established protocol Creates and prints laboratory labels for test\nrequests using VISTA. Monitors and operates the Howdy Computerized Log-in System. Centrifuges\nspecimens, and then refrigerates, or pack in ice according to test procedure. Prepares specimens in\naccordance with The Code of Federal Regulations (Transportation, 49) (Parts 100-185), VHA\nHandbook 1106.01 (Shipping Biological and infections substances), and reference laboratory\nrequirements. Follows all regulatory and legal requirements for chain of custody specimens. Maintains\nthe work area in clean, orderly, and well-labeled condition. Maintains adequate supplies needed for\nproper duty performance. Observes proper safety procedure and informs Lead Technologist or\nLab/Radiology Manager of any unsafe working condition. Prepares trays for specimen collection. Records and compares blood sugar results to patient glucometers. Records temperatures for refrigerated storage system. Collects blood cultures, prepares them for incubation, and enters information into equipment as required, responsible for preprocessing STAT samples incoming to lab. Incumbent will be assigned to other sections of the laboratory to perform tasks equal to their experience and skill levels. Demonstrates infection control practices for disease prevention (i.e. hand washing, universal precautions/isolation procedures, including TB requirements/precautions. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8am to 4:30pm\nTelework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Description/PD#: Med Technician (Phlebotomist)/PD07724O Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]