Medical Technician - Phlebotomy

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Saint Cloud (MN); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA St. Cloud Health Care System, St Cloud, MN, seeks a Phlebotomy Technician (GS-4).

The technician performs phlebotomy in the emergency room, inpatient, outpatient and extended care areas, and also handles computer, customer service, instruction and communication tasks. English proficiency is required; selective placement factors and specialized experience apply. Education substitutions and combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Qualifications

• English proficiency in written and spoken English is required.
• Selective placement factor: phlebotomy experience.
• Specialized experience in technical medical laboratory support or related field.
• Education substitutions may be considered with specific coursework and training.

Responsibilities

• Performs phlebotomy in ER, inpatient, outpatient, and extended care areas.
• Uses two patient identifiers and follows patient safety protocols.
• Draws blood in correct order and according to center policies.
• Processes Ward Specimens Collection Lists and resolves uncollected orders.
• Labels tubes with patient information to ensure proper identification.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Computer skills

Customer service

Patient care

Quality assurance

Specimen collection

Education

Associate degree or coursework

Chemistry/biological sciences coursework

Job description

Summary

These positions are located in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&MLS) at VA St. Cloud Health Care System - St Cloud - MN. The technician performs phlebotomy in the emergency room - inpatient - outpatient - and extended care areas of the hospital and associated clinics. Incumbent also performs a variety of computer - customer service - instruction - and communication tasks.

Summary

These positions are located in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&MLS) at VA St. Cloud Health Care System - St Cloud - MN. The technician performs phlebotomy in the emergency room - inpatient - outpatient - and extended care areas of the hospital and associated clinics. Incumbent also performs a variety of computer - customer service - instruction - and communication tasks.

Qualifications

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-4 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: 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. ~AND~ SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill - knowledge - ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment 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. ~AND~ SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: 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. Specialized experience is: (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. 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 SUBSTITUTION: 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: The work requires manual dexterity and exceptional hand/eye coordination - some physical exertion - such as regular and recurring walking - reaching - bending - and to stand for several consecutive hours during the collection and of specimens. Work is performed at a fast pace. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Position requires occasional lifting of reagent/supply containers weighing up to 20 pounds. 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 may include - but are not limited to the following: Performs phlebotomy and follows current CLSI guidelines
• Ensures two patient identifiers and active communication is used with each blood draw and specimen collection
• Draws tubes in the correct order in - accordance with the Medical Center policies and procedures
• Processes Ward Specimens Collection Lists - STAT and Timed draws - and reviews the collection list for uncollected orders and resolves the uncollected status
• Draws blood from health care system outpatients for requested laboratory tests and on inpatients
• This includes using special drawing techniques and assuring that proper tubes are collected in the correct order and the correct amount of blood is drawn
• Verifies the patient as the individual denoted on the request and labels all tubes with the patient's name - social security number - date - and time to ensure proper identification in accordance with Patient Safety Goals
• Performs blood drawing duties in a courteous manner
• Makes the patient feel as comfortable as possible
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA
• Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 7:30am - 4:00pm OR 9:30am - 6:00pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved