The incumbent serves as the Health Technician for the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS). The incumbent is responsible for providing phlebotomy, specimen processing and testing functions, clinical patient support as well as for providing general clerical and administrative support for all patient activities. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 06/23/2022. Individual Occupational Requirements Health Aid and Technician Series, 0640 Specialized Experience: Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled. or, Education and Training: For GS-5: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. AND English Language Proficiency Requirement No person will be appointed to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English. AND Specialized Experience GS-05 grade level: One year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 grade level in the federal service; experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Knowledge and skill sufficient to provide healthcare to patient's routine system dysfunctions/disorders in an emergency room environment, clinic or ward; Knowledge of healthcare promotion and disease prevention; Skill in dealing with a large patient population of, adult, Veteran and geriatric patients who may be difficult to communicate with due to their age, medications being taken, and the nature and extent of illness/injury, with tack and courtesy; Computer skills to support the daily use of the electronic medical record and other computer programs; Knowledge of patient care procedures, medical terminology, use of equipment, manual dexterity to assist physician during procedures; Knowledge of equipment used in a variety of procedures in order to select, setup, adapt, adjust, and operate correctly; Knowledge of environmental safety, security, and privacy of the patient and privileged information to ensure patient's safety and rights; Knowledge of phlebotomy procedures to include the Vacutainer collection system and use of syringes, butterfly needle devices and capillary puncture techniques; Ability to use various types of phlebotomy equipment (e.g., syringes, butterflies, Vacutainer system); Knowledge of the tube type and amount of specimen required in accordance with test requested; Knowledge as to which laboratory performs which tests in order to properly prepare and route the collected specimen; Skill in oral communication in order to explain testing procedures to patients and put them at ease, clarify test requests with hospital staff members, and to demonstrate procedures and train other staff to perform phlebotomy tasks. OR Applicants may substitute education for the experience required for the GS-05 level. 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation. OR Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-05 level. Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience are also qualifying. If education is used to meet specialized experience requirements, then such education must include courses directly related to the work of the position. (When crediting education, prorate the number of hours of related courses required as a proportion of the total education to be used.) To calculate, first identify the percentage of required education you have earned (when substituting, you cannot use the first 60 semester hours that you earned). Then identify the percentage of required experience you possess. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify at the GS-XX. For example, an applicant who has 9 semester hours of graduate level education (i.e. 50% of graduate education required) and 6 months of creditable specialized experience (i.e. 50% of the required experience) would equal 100% of the required experience for the position 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: The work requires extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for extended periods of time, bending, standing, lifting, walking, stooping, and stretching. The work requires duty on weekends, holidays, and nights when so assigned. This position is also considered high risk because of the constant exposure to blood and fluid products, sharps and chemicals. 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/. ["The employee will be assigned to perform phlebotomy and specimen processing at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System (VASNHS) with the responsibility to the Supervisory Medical Technologist. The Heath Technician will perform a range of direct care duties that may include, but are not limited to the following: Explain work requirements and procedures, giving special instructions with regard to specimen collection, specimen preparation, special specimen handling and test analysis. Perform and provide a wide variety of supportive skills in specimen collection, specimen receiving from hospital and outpatient PCC, specimen verification, and specimen handling, sorting, separation, sets up and ready to load specimen for testing. The work consists of related steps, processes associated with the accessioning, processing, and phlebotomy duties. Conducts on the job training of employees who need skill development or enhancement. Perform a wide variety of blood collection of a responsible nature requiring a representative knowledge of clinical science to understand the multiplicity of tests and specimen requirements, the mechanics of venipuncture and patient preparation. The collection will be from a variety of outpatients, inpatients, and employees. The employee will be expected to demonstrate versatility of skill in rapidly proceeding from one patient to another to perform multiple and simultaneous collection using accurate patient and specimen identification procedures. Perform all clerical duties required of the position, including work lists, logs, etc. Provides orientation/training in performance of phlebotomy and test procedures with the information and experience required to understand underlying disease processes and inform the healthcare provider if unable to obtain. May be called on to familiarize Medical Center staff on the technical aspects of phlebotomy. Sets up equipment for all phlebotomy procedures, making sure that all phlebotomy and ancillary equipment is functioning to standard. Orders and maintains specialized supplies pertaining to ancillary instruments used in the drawing areas. Makes determinations where instructions or guidelines are only general in nature and do not contain specific details. Recognizes abnormalities and brings them to the attention of the appropriate Medical/Health Care Provider. The employee uses initiative in direction the activities of the phlebotomy area and works independently without specific instruction. Obtains assistance from the Supervisory Medical Technologist for unusual patient issues and/or unfamiliar situations. Monitors the patient environment to ensure patient safety during phlebotomy procedures. Must exercise a high degree of flexibility and ability to function in emergent patient care situations. Responsible to transport specimens to the laboratory including those requiring special handling. Work Schedule: Full Time 7:30 am - 4:00 pm for 1 vacancy and 5:00 am - 1:30 pm for 1 vacancy\nCompressed/Flexible: Telework: Not Authorized\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nPosition Description/PD#: Health Technician (Phlebotomy)/PD01582A\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]