Clinical Lab Assistant

Kindred Hospital Central Tampa; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Kindred Hospital Central Tampa is seeking a Clinical Laboratory Assistant to collect specimens, perform limited waived testing, and assist laboratory staff with maintenance and processing. The role requires attention to detail and reliable attendance in a fast-paced hospital setting.

The CLA will verify requisitions, collect and prepare samples, and support the laboratory team in ensuring timely and accurate results for patient care.

Qualifications

• Must read, write and speak fluent English.
• 1-3 years clinical laboratory experience.

Responsibilities

• Verifies test requisitions and matches with nursing station log; resolves discrepancies.
• Collects blood specimens by venipuncture and fingerstick; maintains specimen integrity with aseptic technique.
• Performs waived laboratory testing; assists with maintenance and reagent preparation.
• Prepares samples for testing from alternative sources; plates samples for microbiology.
• Keeps quality-control logs up to date and reports changes as needed.
• Resolves unusual test orders by contacting physicians or lab staff for clarification.
• Supports lab workflow by setting up instruments and performing waived testing per procedures.
• Answers phones and performs basic laboratory clerical tasks; assists with send-outs.

Skills

Analyzing Information

Infection Control

Bedside Manner

Attention to Detail

Lab Procedures

Quality Focus

Safety Awareness

Diagnostic Procedures

Education

High School diploma

Job description

Description

Kindred Hospital Central Tampa is a 102-bed long-term acute care hospital offering the same in-depth care you would receive in a traditional hospital, but for an extended recovery period; featuring five negative pressure rooms. We partner with your physician and offer 24-hour clinical care seven days a week so you can start your journey to wellness. We are located in North Central Tampa about five miles outside downtown.

Job Summary

Clinical Laboratory Assistants (CLAs) perform duties in the laboratory that are above the complexity level of a phlebotomist, but not yet to the level of a medical laboratory technician. They are to collect specimens, do specimen processing, perform limited waived laboratory testing, assist technicians and technologists with maintenance and reagent preparation, plate samples for microbiology, and perform preparation of specimens for testing from alternative laboratory sources.

Essential Functions

Verifies test requisitions by comparing information with nursing station log, bringing discrepancies to the attention of unit personnel.

• Verifies patient by reading patient identification. Obtains blood specimens by performing venipunctures and fingersticks.
• Maintains specimen integrity by using aseptic technique, following department procedures, observing isolation procedures.
• Collects therapeutic drug-monitoring assays by collaborating with nursing personnel to ensure appropriate drug dose to collection time.
• Tracks collected specimens by initialing, dating, and noting times of collection; maintaining daily tallies of collections performed.
• Maintains quality results by following department procedures and testing schedule; recording results in the quality-control log; identifying and reporting needed changes.
• Maintains safe, secure, and healthy work environment by following standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations.
• Resolves unusual test orders by contacting the physician, pathologist, nursing station, or laboratory testing personnel; referring unresolved orders back to the originator for further clarification; notifying supervisor of unresolved orders.
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Serves and protects the hospital community by adhering to professional standards, hospital policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements, and TJC standards.
• Enhances phlebotomy department and hospital reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Assists with laboratory clerical work. Answers phones, receives specimens and performs preanalytical preparation for samples including send-outs
• Coordinates and actively enhances laboratory workflow by loading instruments, setting up plates, and performing waived testing per laboratory procedures. Performs pending log resolution. Calls critical values to actionable care providers

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Expectations

• Analyzing Information
• Infection Control
• Bedside Manner
• Attention to Detail
• Lab Environment, Procedural Skills
• Quality Focus
• Hospital Environment, Creating a Safe, Effective Environment
• Performing Diagnostic Procedures
• Approximate percent of time required to travel: 0%
• Must read, write and speak fluent English.
• Must have good and regular attendance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education

• Minimum of a High School diploma or Equivalent

Licenses/Certification

• Medical Lab Assistant certification preferred but not required.
• State license/registration as required by state.
• Current BLS preferred.

Experience

• 1-3 years clinical laboratory experience.