This position is located within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Health Care System in Durham, North Carolina. This position encompasses a wide variety of duties involving specimen collection, preparation, and processing for transport, while assuring accuracy of identification and integrity of specimen for routine and specialized testing throughout all processes.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Follows procedures for patient identification, sample procurement, and specimen labeling; Performs routine venipuncture specimen collections from patients; Follows laboratory procedures for collecting specimens in the appropriate container; Controls the physical condition of samples and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained; Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques; Prepares samples for testing to include labeling, centrifugation, decanting, and aliquoting, etc.; Maintains adequate supplies for all phlebotomy and specimen procurement procedures; Answers incoming calls for the laboratory service - finding and relaying accurate information or referring the caller to technical personnel; Performs standard diagnostic tests/procedures such as bleeding time, occult blood, urine dipstick, pregnancy test, fingerstick glucose; Performs sterilization on the autoclave, and cleans glassware and other reusable items; Identifies and appropriately responds to adverse reactions such as fainting, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, and arrests; Performs all 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: 7:00am - 3:30pm with rotating weekends and holidays Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Recruitment/Relocation Incentives are 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. SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SPF): 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. In addition to meeting the English Language Proficiency and Selective Placement Factor, to qualify for this position, you must meet one of the following: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience, equivalent to at least the GS-4 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 this position. 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. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ~OR~ EDUCATION: Successfully completed a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position to be filled. Education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of post-high school educationand specialized experience, as described above. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to one (1) year of specialized experience. Education must have been obtained from an accredited college or university. NOTE: If you select this option, you must submit a copy of your transcript (unofficial or official) with your application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Computer SkillsCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Patient CareQuality AssuranceSpecimen 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 DEMANDS: The work requires some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring light lifting, walking, bending, or standing. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of the workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. In other situations, such as in the laboratory, there may be special requirements for agility of dexterity, such as exceptional hand/eye coordination, or color differentiation. WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions, example, working around moving parts, carts, or machines; with blood or specimens containing contagious diseases or irritant chemicals. Uses protective clothing or gear such as masks, gowns, boots, goggles, gloves, or shields to moderate risks; is also required to follow all safety procedures/practices, such as adopting sterile techniques for minimizing risk. 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 Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]