This position is in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Maine Healthcare System in Togus, ME.

Duties

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** Duties include but are not limited to the following: Collects adequate and correct blood specimens by venipuncture or micro-technique. Works from requisitions, computerized phlebotomy lists and instructions or other verbal requests to obtain and collect patient's blood. Performs data entry associated with phlebotomy. Follows departmental policies to correctly identify the patient before any blood specimen is drawn by checking patient ID bracelet as an inpatient and the Veteran's full name and full social security number as an outpatient and to correctly label all specimens drawn at the site of collection. Adheres to blood borne pathogen standard precautions and all phlebotomy safety policies, when performing phlebotomy. Delivers specimens to Laboratory in the most expedient manner and in the proper transport container. Starts glucose tolerance procedures and collects remaining specimens at required times. Draws other timed specimens as indicated. Picks up and delivers to the Laboratory a variety of clinical or anatomic specimens other than blood. Sorts and processes specimens received in central specimen receipt area of department in order of priority for best patient results and to meet turnaround time goals. Using problem solving skills identifies and corrects any problems arising with the received specimens. Handles relevant phone calls for the clinical and/or anatomic accessioning areas and where possible resolves whatever issues precipitated the telephone call based upon his/her knowledge and experience. Maintains orderly and timely flow of specimens to the technical areas throughout tour of duty. Performs other specialized procedures as directed in Hematology, Special Hematology, Chemistry, Special Chemistry, Blood Bank (blood gases) and in Microbiology (blood cultures). Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday, 3:00pm-11:30pm with rotating Weekends and Holidays. 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. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

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. AND SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: 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 requirement 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 the English Language Proficiency requirement and Selective Placement Factor, the following is also required: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level in the Federal service 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. NOTE: Experience must be documented within the resume to receive credit. OR EDUCATION SUPSTITUTION: 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. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted at time of application. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION: An equivalent combination of post-high school education and specialized experience as described above. Note: 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. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted at time of application. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Computer SkillsCustomer ServiceInfection ControlSpecimen 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 Requirements: The work requires moderate standing, stooping, pushing, pulling, reaching, walking, bending, lifting light/moderate objects (20 pounds) and to have good manual dexterity and visual acuity. 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 Togus VA Medical Center 1 VA Center Augusta, ME 04330 US
• Name: VHA National Recruitment Center
• Phone: (844)456-5208
• Email: [email protected]