Summary

This position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the Hershel "Woody" Williams - WV VAMC. The position serves as a Phlebotomist and is responsible for collecting a broad range of routine and emergency blood samples - performs chain of custody drug collections - other tests procedures.

Qualifications

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. This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill - knowledge - ability or other worker characteristics basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointments and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration. The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients. To qualify for this position at the GS-4 level - you must meet one of the following: EXPERIENCE: For this Medical Technician - GS-4 position - do you have: 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? General Experience is: (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position - or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Examples of Specialized experience include: (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. Qualifying experience: includes: prepares samples for testing in the various clinical laboratory sections; performs routine venipuncture specimen collection from patients; verifies patient information and tests ordered in the computer system; provides customer service to all patients arriving in the laboratory for blood collection; performs proper specimen handling techniques; distributes - stores and delivers supplies and other materials used for phlebotomy service. 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. ~OR~ 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) ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and experience - as described above. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application) You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Computer Skills Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Patient Care Quality Assurance Specimen Collection 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/Working Conditions: The physical demands are primarily standing and walking - but also some bending - lifting and carrying of light items. The work requires above average agility and dexterity. The work environment involves regular and recurrent exposure to moderate risks or discomforts typically associated with performing phlebotomy on patients - requiring special safety precautions 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*** Duties will include - but may not be limited to the following: Performs vein punctures on out patients and in patients by correctly identifying patients full name - full social security number - and/ or date of birth - selecting appropriate collection devices and taking any necessary precautions in specimen preparation
• Instructs patients in proper procedure for 24 hour urine collection
• Collects random urine specimens
• Collects specimens based on urgency designation of STAT - ASAP - TIMED and ROUTINE regardless of location
• Receives - verifies required collection information - and accessions appropriate orders for laboratory testing using the appropriate options Recognizes emergency situations and takes necessary action
• Notifies technologists of impending work and of any issues that may adversely affect analysis
• Prepares specimens - operates centrifuges and other minor equipment with in the laboratory for specimen processing and delivery of testing areas
• Adheres to safety - infection control - and universal precautions while drawing blood
• This includes such things as replacing bed rails - removing tourniquets and wearing gloves
• Must be proficient in phlebotomy procedures procedures and standard
• Answers incoming calls for Laboratory Services
• Quickly finds and relays accurate information or refers the caller to technical personnel
• Perform other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Various work schedules are available - some to include days - nights - weekends and/or holidays due to operational necessity and at the discretion of the supervisor
• Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved