This position is in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service located at Dayton VA Medical Center. The incumbent's primary purpose is to serve as a Medical Laboratory Technician in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service performing a wide variety of clinical testing, including both moderate and highly complex clinical laboratory testing.

Duties

Performs a full range of laboratory testing and examination of blood, urine, body fluids and other specimens. Performs routine laboratory testing (both moderate and complex testing) in all areas of the clinical laboratory including Hematology, Coagulation, Urinalysis, Chemistry, Immunology, Blood Bank, and Microbiology. The technician is assigned to rotate to all areas but may be assigned to one primary area based on laboratory needs. The work performed by the technician requires professional knowledge and competence in the field of clinical laboratory technology. They must be able to work independently and be able to interpret and apply complex written instructions from a variety of sources (i.e. Operating procedures, CLSI documents, VA directives, and accrediting agency requirements) to determine the correct course of action. Performs non-routine testing as required: performs complex analyses and infrequently requested tests which may include transfusion reaction work-up, manual chemistry methods, body fluid analysis with manual differential, polymerase chain reaction testing, or special coagulation tests. Packages laboratory specimens for pick up and shipment to reference laboratories. Instructs medical technologist, medical technician, and phlebotomy students as well as new employees in approved laboratory techniques as assigned. Performs and evaluates quality control and proficiency testing samples according to laboratory standard operating procedures and accrediting agency requirements. Performs preventative maintenance as scheduled, on a variety of laboratory equipment, to minimize breakdown and delay of procedures. Verifies accurate instrument functioning, troubleshoots instrument malfunctions, and acts on any quality control shifts, trends or out of range results. Identifies unusual results or conditions which may cause erroneous results (instrument malfunctions, interfering substances, faulty operating parameters, or nonstandard test procedure used). Evaluates the problem and selects appropriate corrective action. Ensures that laboratory areas are stocked, maintains appropriate inventories, and notifies appropriate personnel when supplies need to be ordered. Maintains work area in a clean and safe condition according to agency or accreditation requirements. Records laboratory data on charts, logs or computerized forms. The work performed by the technician requires professional knowledge and competence in the field of clinical laboratory technology. They must be able to work independently and be able to interpret and apply complex written instructions from a variety of sources (i.e. Operating procedures, CLSI documents, VA directives, and accrediting agency requirements) to determine the correct course of action. Enters data into the computerized patient medical record either manually or through instrument computer interfaces. Accepts responsibility for the accuracy of the results. Calls critical values to the clinician per laboratory policy. Reviews other technologist/technician manually entered results for accuracy. Performs other related duties as assigned. Verifies identity of patient and collects blood specimens with minimal discomfort to the patient using standard phlebotomy techniques. Incumbent performs both venipuncture and capillary collections utilizing vacutainer, syringe, butterfly or finger stick devices. Collects blood from both inpatients and outpatients. Labels samples accurately, centrifuges, and aliquots samples as needed. Controls physical conditions and observes any time factors necessary to ensure the physiological state of the specimen is maintained throughout the pre-analytical to post analytical stages. Follows standard precautions, isolation procedures, infection control policies and other safety regulations. Conducts all work according to Laboratory Safety regulations. Uses standard aseptic procedures and safeguards. Disposes of contaminated and/or potentially dangerous specimens, reagents, and chemicals in accordance with applicable regulations. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday;2330 - 0730 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD911870 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/30/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Applicants must be eligible under the VA Interchange Agreement, having served continuously for at least one year in the other merit system under this interchange agreement. For more information regarding the VA Interchange Agreement please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/competitive-hiring/. All Title 38 Veterans Canteen Service (VCS) employees must have served in their Excepted Service position for at least 90 days in order to be eligible for a position within the Competitive Service. Applicants who were previously selected under a Competitive Delegating Examining Unit (DEU) announcement must have served in their position for at least 90 days prior to being eligible for other positions within the Competitive Service. In addition to the qualification above you must also have: You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience or equivalent to at least the next lower grade of a GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience may include: Performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques. Providing advanced technical medical laboratory support work such as performing in depth laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking). Reviewing patient results identifying any significant or critical elements and providing feedback. Performing advanced and/or difficult specimen collections, interpreting results, and utilizing advanced techniques and methods to interpret difficult and/or complex results. OR Education: Successfully completed one (1) full year of graduate education or an internship that is directly related to the work of this position. One year of full-time graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement. Part-time graduate education is creditable in accordance with its relationship to a year of full-time study at the school attended. (Transcripts must be submitted) OR Combination of Experience and Education: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at the GS-7 level. 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-7. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Diagnostic Medical TestingIntegrity/HonestyInterpersonal SkillsTechnical Problem Solving 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: Work involves regular and recurrent standing, bending over microscopes, walking, reaching and bending to verify and check supplies. Special dexterity is required to secure blood samples from patients with compromised vein structure. Occasionally lifts heavy containers or cases of supplies(less than 20 lb.). 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/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Dayton VA Medical Center 4100 West Third Street Dayton, OH 45428 US
• Name: Tyler Willis
• Phone: 937-268-6511 X2883
• Email: [email protected]