This position is located in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network, Durham VA Medical Center, Patient Care Service under Ambulatory Care Nursing. The incumbent will perform technical work in one or more areas such as chemistry, hematology coagulation, urinalysis, phlebotomy, rapid testing or microbiology. The incumbent works under periodic supervision, but otherwise conducts duties independently.

Duties

The duties of the Medical Technician Phlebotomist position include, but are not limited to: Obtain and maintain a current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification to enhance professional growth and development through participation in educational programs such as BLS, in-service meetings, and workshops. Performs phlebotomy using appropriate and established venipuncture techniques and universal precautions, being careful to avoid areas close to nerve bundles and arteries. Conducts any or all of the following tasks related to specimens; performs collection, ensures accurate and complete labeling and accessioning, distributes to appropriate areas of the lab, runs through centrifuge and de-capping machines, and stores analyzed specimens in racks according to day and lab number. Accurately evaluates and interprets patient orders in the computer to determine which testing may be accessioned and performed at the time, if fasting or other specific preparation is required, and if any specimens must be collected and returned by the patient. Collects samples with knowledge of the many special anticoagulants and testing requirements for routine and complex testing both pre- and post- collection, being careful to choose the correct sample and tube types. Performs positive (active) identification of patients and specimens, including full name and full social security number through entire process of specimen collection, accessioning, processing, and storage/distribution of patient specimens to clinical laboratory departments. Coordinates with all other clinical departments, to include medicine, surgery, dialysis, dermatology, to complete order entry and accessioning of test orders in the computer, correcting duplications or entry errors. Maintains laboratory records of all tests results, while strictly adhering to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) and local/agency requirements. Observes patient at all times during and after collection for any adverse responses. Handles unusual patient situations appropriately (blind, deaf, suicidal). Properly applies pressure to the puncture site, evaluates for bruising or excessive bleeding, and bandages appropriately. Performs lactose and glucose tolerance tests using multiple complex steps; must interpret fasting glucose level and determine appropriate dosage of glucose/lactose by integrating patients age, weight and pregnancy status. Assists with monitoring of inventory and maintenance of adequate phlebotomy supplies and thorough cleaning/disinfecting of work areas. Selects appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for handling of patients, samples, transport, and cleaning. Operates, maintains, and troubleshoots laboratory centrifuges for processing of blood samples to maintain specimen integrity. Maintains laboratory facilities, equipment and supplies in such a manner to provide for safety and efficiency of laboratory operations. Conducts and documents periodic light maintenance and Quality Control of laboratory equipment, including cleaning, restocking, checking controls, and verifying that automated maintenance procedures have functioned appropriately. Processes and prepares test samples for shipping, using universal blood and bodily fluid precautions and lab and regulatory procedures for processing bio-hazard material for transport out to referral laboratories. Accepts computer and written requests for all clinical departments, to include primary care, surgical, and medicine. Coordinates with all other clinical departments, to include medicine, surgery, dialysis, dermatology, to complete order entry and accessioning of test orders in the computer, correcting duplications or entry errors. Performs other duties as assigned Meets the needs of customers while supporting VA mission Work Schedule: 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician-Phlebotomist/PD06701A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/10/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to position up to GS-5 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his/her latest non-temporary competitive appointment. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-4 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to (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. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond equivalent combinations of post-high school education and specialized experience, as described above. Note: only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of 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 1 year of specialized experience. (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 for this position: Computer SkillsCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Patient CareQuality AssuranceSpecimen Collection 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: The work requires prolonged periods of walking, standing, bending and lifting up to 50 pounds and carrying of items, to lean over patients and equipment and to work while wearing PPE. In other situations, in the laboratory, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity, such as exceptional hand/eye coordination or color differentiation. Finger dexterity and hand eye coordination required to find hard to locate veins and to handle needles and tubes while maintaining adequate blood flow for collection In some areas, employees may be required to travel between clinics/CBOC's, walk in the dark, or walking in weather to buildings which are not accessible through tunnels. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Lisa Damond
• Phone: 912-569-1715
• Email: [email protected]