This position, located in the Office of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service, at the Fort Wayne VA Medical Center in Fort Wayne, IN. The primary purpose of this position is responsible for performing multiple duties in accessioning, specimen processing, reference laboratory specimen processing, clerical functions, patient testing, quality control review, lab information systems reviews, manual entry reviews, and phlebotomy as necessary.

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: Receive and prepare requests for testing and specimens into the clinical laboratory Follows procedures for processing biological specimens Separates and routes the specimens to the specific laboratory section that performs the testing. Assists healthcare personnel (MT/CLS) who deliver specimens by directing them to place the specimens in the proper location based on the type of testing and the laboratory section. Notifies the laboratory staff of the need of emergency test Specimen receipt and processing duties will account for 5% of the total time on duty Receives all specimens that are sent to commercial reference laboratories for testing Verifies proper patient preparation, specimen collection, and specimen transport requirements for all reference laboratory tests Orders specific tests in the computer system provided by the major commercial reference labor Prepare any hard copy requisitions required by other reference laboratories Processes all reference laboratory specimens according to strict guidelines to assure specimen integrity On occasion, the individual is required to measure the volume of a specimen or adjust the pH of a urine specimen prior to sending the test to the reference labor Review various lab information systems for items such as quality control entry, critical value documentation, test rejected, invalid patient, evaluate, failed, that interfaces between analyzers and information systems are operational and to result and review manual entry test Perform employee drug screen by the DHHS split specimen collection method and will maintain the chain of custody for that sample Perform a limited amount of patient testing which includes but is not limited to waived test Accurately records and reports the test results in the VISTA computer system When required, draws blood from outpatients and inpatients for requested laboratory tests. This includes using special drawing techniques, assuring that proper tubes are used, and the correct amount of blood is drawn Perform the following special drawing procedures: a) Collecting glucose tolerance specimens. Instruction patients in procedures to be followed prior, during, and after tests, making out schedules for a patient to follow in order to obtain the correct blood specimens at the required time. b) Preparing the collection site and drawing blood cultures 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: Saturday and Sunday - 2:00PM-2:00AM - Plus two weekday shifts: 8:30AM - 5:00PM Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

Qualifications

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-6. At the GS-5 grade level, the employee performs assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-6. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher-level work, and availability of fun PLUS THERE IS AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT 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. The English Language proficiency statement appears as a Selective Placement Factor on the Assessment Questionnaire. PLUS EXPERIENCE: Possess one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in Federal service that has required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of this position. Examples of qualifying specialized experience includes verifying requests for testing to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the request, adheres to all infection control procedures to ensure compliance with safety protocols while drawing blood, draws blood from patients, via venipuncture, to perform requested laboratory tests, and packages specimens, with various temperature requirements, to meet the federal guidelines for shipping diagnostic specimens and biohazardous materials. This experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. OR EDUCATION: Possess the successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business or technical school, junior college, college, or university for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. One year of full-time undergraduate study is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in a college or university or at least 20 hours of classroom instruction per week for approximately 36 weeks in a business or technical school. Transcripts required. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Possess an equivalent combination of specialized experience and education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Transcripts required, and experience must be detailed in your resume to receive credit. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Attention to DetailSpecimen CollectionTechnical CompetenceTechnology Application 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: Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular and physical exertion such as walking, bending, recurrent standing and moderate lifting. The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities and dexterity needed to perform intricate analytical and technical procedures. Work involves traveling to and from patient wards; prolonged periods of standing and bending over patients and/or control panels of analytic instruments; reaching, stooping and bending for supplies; carrying light to moderately heavy loads (specimen collection trays, reagents and supplies), entering patient information, test orders, and data in a computer. 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: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | International Affairs Office (ed.gov).

Contacts

• Address Northern Indiana HCS 1700 East 38th Street Marion, IN 46953 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]