Summary

This position is located within the Central Phlebotomy and Processing Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Jacksonville Outpatient Clinic in Jacksonville - FL.

Qualifications

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 perform the duties of this position. ~AND~ 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. ~AND~ The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: "Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients." In addition to the English Language Proficiency and Selective Placement Factor - to qualify for this position at the GS-5 level - you must meet one of the following requirements: Experience: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-4) in the Federal Service that has given you the particular knowledge - skills - and abilities required to successfully perform the duties of a Medical Technician - Phlebotomy - 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 and/or (b) technical support work in a closely related field - e.g. - biological laboratory technician work that required application of the methods and techniques of a phlebotomist. 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 fully documented on your resume and must include job title - duties - month and year start/end dates - AND hours worked per week. ~OR~ Education: Successful completion of a full four (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 Medical Technician - Phlebotomy position which may include clinical hematology - clinical laboratory practices - phlebotomy practicum - clinical microbiology - clinical practicum - or special topics in the Medical Laboratory Technology field. 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. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ Combination: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the second year) and specialized experience - as listed above - may be used to meet total experience requirements. The education portion must include courses directly related to the work of the Medical Technician - Phlebotomy position such as clinical hematology - clinical laboratory practices - phlebotomy practicum - clinical microbiology - clinical practicum - or special topics in the Medical Laboratory Technology field. 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. NOTE: Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Preferred Experience: The facility prefers the following experience: Phlebotomy experience within the past two years. Hospital or clinical lab specimen processing experience. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: SPECIMEN COLLECTION COMPUTER SKILLS TECHNICAL COMPETENCE INTERPERSONAL EFFECTIVENESS 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 of the position is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular and physical exertion such as sitting (2-4 hours) - walking (6-8 hours) - repetitive bending (6-8 hours) - standing (6-8 hours) - moderate lifting (14-30 pounds) - and average carrying (14-30 pounds). The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities - and dexterity needed to perform complex analytical and technical procedures. Use of both hands and all fingers required - both legs required - ability to reach beyond shoulder (2 hours) - ability to pull hand over fist (0.25 hours) - ability to push (0.5 hours). Capacity for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously - near vision correctable at 13" to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4 - Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other - both eyes required - Depth perception - Normal color vision - hearing (aid permitted) - mental and emotional stability. Performing phlebotomy and entering patient information - test orders - and data in a computer may expose the person in the position to repetitive motion. 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/.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** The Medical Technician - Phlebotomy is responsible for collecting - accessioning - and specimen processing of outpatient and inpatient populations samples
• These complex duties include reference laboratory specimen processing - clerical functions - patient education - and outpatient and inpatient phlebotomy as necessary
• The major duties include but are not limited to: Performs employee and handles specimens in accordance with Federal Workplace Drug Testing Program as administered and regulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for drug testing of employees
• Maintains sample integrity during collection process - ensures privacy of donor - ensures the security of specimen - and avoids conduct or statements that could be viewed as inappropriate or offensive
• Performs venipuncture collections with minimal number of failures - patient bruising - or requiring patient call backs for requested laboratory test
• Accessions laboratory tests via the use of Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (VistA) and can build - add/remove tests - edit - print - and build collection list in VistA
• Uses standard aseptic procedures and adhere to safety - infection control - and universal precautions while drawing blood
• Makes gross visual observations and identifies subtle changes regarding the patient's condition
• Prepares specimens for testing - such as labeling - centrifugation - decanting - and aliquoting
• Operates pneumatic tube system and centrifuges - reporting any malfunctions to supervisor or appropriate off shift personnel
• Accesses and retrieves samples using the sample monitor locating the sample location from the archive rack for add-on test
• Utilizes a variety of reference material to determine specimen and storage requirements - quantity - patient preparation - etc. - of any requested laboratory test - including reference lab tests
• Secures confidence and cooperation of patient during phlebotomy by explaining procedure and positioning patient for desired results
• Identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies that may cause erroneous test results
• Provides training for new employees and students on how to operate and trouble-shoot automated instruments
• and - Performs all other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 6:30 a.m
• - 3:00 p.m
• 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