This position is in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the Department of Veteran Affairs in El Paso TX.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Major Duties: Operates instrumentation that performs blood cell testing with the newest methodologies which include impedance testing, flow cytometry, immunochemical staining. Displays and reports must be interpreted utilizing the instrument report as well as interpretation of cellular staining characteristics and microscopic morphology of the peripheral blood smear. Identifies abnormal cellular morphology that will provide the clinician with information related to disease processes and blood cell abnormalities to include leukemias and lymphomas which requires independent expertise. Performs sedimentation rates on blood. Operates instrumentation for semi-quantitative and quantitative measurements of chemical and cellular constituents in urine specimens. Performs urine microscopy examinations by phase contrast and pregnancy tests. Operates instrumentation for the determination of prothrombin time for warfarin monitoring and activated partial thromboplastin time. Performs phlebotomy and follows current guidelines. Performs microscopic evaluations of specimens when required. Establishes minimum acceptable criteria for control/documentation/protocol pertaining to test or examination procedures. Operates a variety of complex instrumentation and must have the necessary skills to program and troubleshoot the instrumentation. Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of test procedures both manually and on testing equipment. Performs tests such as glucose and total lipid, endocrine and tumor markers, anemia, thyroid, cardiac, and infectious disease testing. Maintains laboratory stock and orders materials, as needed. Maintains and documents the laboratory facilities and equipment and controls supplies. Calibrates and maintains laboratory instrumentation on timely intervals so as to minimize breakdown and delay of procedures. Tracks all laboratory orders received and entered in the appropriate system. Coordinates care with other systems and departments to ensure efficient, quality laboratory services. Performs other 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 8:00am-4:30pm Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level, you must meet one of the following: EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-5 grade level, 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. 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. At this level, specialized experience should include experience performing a variety of relatively standardized tests, examinations, and determinations. The procedures and techniques are well-established but involve many meticulous sequential steps to complete a test; and following written procedures which give carefully detailed instructions on each step of the assigned test and examinations. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit.~OR~ EDUCATION: Successful completion of one half year (9 semester hours) of graduate education that is directly related to the work of this position. One year of full-time graduate education is the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent one year of full-time study. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours should be considered as satisfying the one 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 at time of application. ~OR~ COMBINATION: an equivalent combination of graduate education and specialized experience as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Experience must be detailed in your resume and transcripts must be submitted at time of application. 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Diagnostic Medical TestingQuality AssuranceSpecimen CollectionTechnical Competence 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, bending, sitting over a microscope and concentrate for long periods of time while reading specimens and to stand for several consecutive hours during the preparation of specimens. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Position requires lifting of reagent containers weighing up to 35 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/.

Education

IMPORTANT: 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 El Paso VA Clinic 5001 North Piedras Street El Paso, TX 79930 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]