LAB ASSISTANT

Covenant Health; Lenoir City (TN); On-site; USD 19,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant Health's Fort Loudoun Medical Center in Lenoir City, TN is hiring a Lab Assistant, General Laboratory. The PRN/OCC position offers variable hours and shifts to support the lab operations and patient care.

The role focuses on collecting venous and capillary blood specimens, ensuring safety and comfort, handling specimens, labeling, transport, and using lab systems. It requires OSHA compliance and ability to work with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• Ability to collect blood specimens from venous and capillary sites.
• Follows OSHA standards and universal precautions.
• Ability to use hospital lab systems when computers are down.

Responsibilities

• Assist in training and orientation of new employees.
• Properly collects blood samples from venous and capillary sites.
• Label and transport specimens to the appropriate lab sections.
• Maintain a neat, sanitary phlebotomy area and equipment.
• Ensure patient identification and safety procedures are followed.
• Local travel as required.

Skills

Phlebotomy

Lab safety

Customer service

Education

High school diploma or GED preferred

Certification by NCA/ASCP/ASPT desirable

Job description

Overview

Lab Assistant, General Laboratory

PRN/OCC, Variable Hours and Shifts

Fort Loudoun Overview:

Fort Loudoun Medical Center, part of Covenant Health, is an 87,000-square-foot hospital serving Loudon County and surrounding communities. Based in Lenoir City, TN, with more than 200 physicians across 29 specialties, the facility offers advanced technology including MRI, CT, ultrasound, diagnostic X-rays, women's imaging, and nuclear medicine unique to the region. Featuring private patient rooms and comprehensive services such as emergency care, surgery, and specialized treatments, our dedicated team of physicians, staff, and volunteers is committed to providing excellent care to every patient, every time.

Position Summary:

An employee in this position must be able to perform in the following areas: collection and proper handling of venous and capillary blood specimens for both in and out patients, responsibility for the safety and comfort of customers, clerical/computer duties, and courier responsibilities as required for the position.

Responsibilities

• Assists in the training and orientation of new employees.
• Properly collects blood samples from venous, and capillary (both finger and heel) sites as required by the facility.
• Properly handles all specimens including prompt transport to the lab, special tube requirements, on ice as needed, preparation and preservation, without contamination, etc.
• Deliver all specimens to proper department within the laboratory.
• Correctly identify patients by hospital armband and by asking the patient his/her name and date-of-birth, by asking a family member or an RN the patient's name and date-of-birth.
• Properly use Hollister Ident-A-Band system for labeling blood bank specimens.
• Accurately label all specimens.
• Maintain phlebotomy tray and work area in a neat and sanitary manner.
• Responsible for care and maintenance of equipment and supplies (for example, maintaining appropriate supplies) and for notifying supervisor when items are in need of repair or replacement.
• Must comply with OSHA standards, Universal Precautions, hospital safety manuals, and laboratory policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of how to manually obtain orders when computers are down.
• Responsible for working on Lab and/or HIS computer systems as appropriate for specific hospital facility.
• Responsible for checking uncollected work lists several times during the shift and following up on any uncollected specimens or misplaced orders.
• Responsible for answering department telephone, transferring calls to the correct section, looking up test results, etc.
• Responsible for accessioning and centrifuging specimens.
• Responsible for the following duties as required by the facility; posting billing summaries for physician office accounts; processing laboratory supply orders, receiving and storing stock; mailing and faxing reports to all clients; charting laboratory reports; and handling specimen send-outs.
• Local travel required.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

None specified; will accept any combination of formal education and/or prior work experience sufficient to demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skill and ability needed to perform the essential tasks of the job, typically such as would be equivalent to a high school diploma or GED. Preference may be given to individuals possessing a HS diploma or GED.

Minimum Experience:

None

Licensure Requirement:

Certification by NCA, ASCP, ASPT, or comparable institution is desirable. Employee must have a valid Tennessee driver’s license Class D and state mandated minimum insurance coverage. Driving record must meet Covenant Health minimum standards at the date of hire and throughout employment tenure.