Summary This position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. The Health Technician - Phlebotomist will be performing a variety of clinical and administrative functions in the Specimen Acquisition sections. Responsibilities Major Duties: Processes a wide variety of complex specimens from hospitalized patients and patients from outpatient and community based clinics. Processes, Examines, Accessions Specimens Receives, routes and stores specimens noting labeling, contamination, hemolysis, shortage or other errors in sampling, recognizing common environmental or other considerations that could affect the results. Reconciles and verifies sample @types and volumes with electronic orders and hard copy requisitions. Ensures samples have the correct UID (Universal Identification) accession number label as appropriate and that label is placed so bar codes are instrument ready. Ensures correct routing of clinical samples to laboratory sections, informing other staff of sample urgency as necessary. The Technician must be familiar with tests performed throughout the laboratory, i.e. chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, microbiology, and cytology. They must be familiar with the multitude of laboratory send-out tests, their respective requirements, and requirements noted by the laboratories where they are performed. Selects the correct method of resolution for problem samples and orders and informs team leader or supervisor of problems that cannot be resolved. May add, delete and cancel tests from existing orders as necessary and according to policy, annotating proper date, time and initials on the sample in addition to who was informed. Performs manual procedures as required during computer down times. Prepares samples, slides, smears, or other @types of specimens (i.e., blood, urine, tissue) common to the laboratory. Follows standard procedures and applies a practical knowledge of the properties of the specimens to ensure effective presentation of the qualities or characteristics critical for accurate testing or examination. May perform selected low complexity tests and provide technical support and assistance to the Medical Technologists in the Laboratory. Keeps area clean and hazard free. Performs blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques including vacutainer system, syringe, butterfly or capillary finger sticks with minimal number of failures, patient bruising or required repeat collection, ensuring samples are submitted to the clinical laboratory with least possible delay. Required to correctly label all blood tubes, instructs patients on proper specimen collection procedures and provide service in a friendly, compassionate, veteran centric manner. Appropriately educated in identifying adverse reactions to venipuncture procedures, such as dizziness, nausea and hematomas. Following proper procedures when incidents of fainting and convulsions occur is anticipated to be carried out until further help arrives. General Laboratory/Administrative Duties: Functions as a resource person and troubleshooter for clinic personnel in executing VISTA order entry and results options. Reviews orders in CPRS to ensure that all necessary orders are drawn. Provides order numbers to technical staff for orders that need to be cancelled for various reasons, i.e. duplicate order, patient no longer on medication, etc. Investigates missing or incomplete patient laboratory orders. Contacts the nurse or provider involved to ensure missing or incomplete orders are placed or corrected prior to the patient presenting for sample collection. The technician is required to assist with the development of technical bulletins, procedures, training materials and other program materials, which ensure accreditation and compliance with all regulatory agencies concerning patient testing, result reporting, and proficiency testing. Responsible for receiving and storage of Laboratory supplies. This includes, but is not limited to, documenting the receipt date on each item, verifying the storage requirement of each item by temperature requirement (room temperature, refrigerator or freezer), and rotating the stock to ensure the newest supply is in the back. In addition, they are required to check the expiration date of all reagents and supplies in the room temperature storage room for expiration, sequestering the item, and notifying the supervisor of the findings. Audits records to ensure appropriate classification, quantity, catalog information, etc. Communicates all issues necessary, such as but not limited to: supply requirements, lab problems, accidents, patient requests and sample errors. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm or Monday through Friday from 12:00 am - 8:00 am Alternating Holidays and Weekends, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician - Phlebotomist/PD03708A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job All 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. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 You may be required to serve a probationary/trial period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 08/04/2025. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. 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: : Must have one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-4) in Federal service that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the position to be filled. Specialized experience includes: knowledge performing veni-puncture and other specialized collections according to guidelines; customer service skills to address problem-solving; Phlebotomy work experience to include drawing blood, accessioning and electronic records; and proficiency in and knowledge of specialized lab tasks including wide range of different tests, @types of tubes, etc. Note: Evidence of specialized experience must be supported by detailed documentation of duties performed in positions held on your resume. You must provide work experience information such as hours per week, salary, and starting/ending dates of employment (month and year format) to establish you have one (1) full year of Specialized Experience at or comparable to the required grade level. OR EDUCATION: Successfully completed a full four-year course of study leading to a Bachelor's degree, with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to this position. Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. OR COMBINATION EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A combination of successfully completed post-high school education (beyond the 2nd year) AND specialized experience which meet the total experience requirements for this grade level. Transcripts (unofficial or official) must be submitted with application. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Clinical Data Collection/Documentation Communications Compliance Inspection Computer Skills Diagnostic Medical Testing 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 extensive and recurring physical exertion such as standing for long periods of time, bending, lifting, walking, stooping and stretching. The work requires manual dexterity and a large degree of concentration. Work Environment: The work is performed in a medical laboratory with daily exposure to patients and materials carrying infectious diseases and hazardous chemicals. Proper precautions are practiced. The employee has the potential to be exposed to communicable disease. The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions, e.g., working around carts, or machines; with biohazardous samples, contagious diseases or irritant chemicals, and some risk of needle stick. Employees are required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks, gowns, coats, goggles, gloves or shields to biohazard risks. 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/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
