Summary This position is located in the of the VA Medical Center in Dallas, TX. The Medical Technician performs both routine and specialized testing in chemistry, hematology, coagulation, urinalysis, microbiology, and serology in support of a medical laboratory. Responsibilities THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION Major duties and responsibilities will include: Demonstrates knowledge of principles, techniques, and practices of phlebotomy, hemostasis, and requirement of blood collection for the various tests performed in the laboratory. Addresses patient phlebotomy issues such as difficult sticks, troubleshooting patient samples, and resolving patient/ patient family members and provider/nurse complaints or concerns. Oversees and distributes workload of medical technicians daily. Maintains optimal patient flow throughout phlebotomy areas by assigning tasks and coordinating employee breaks/lunches. Obtains timely and appropriate blood samples as ordered per local policies and procedures for both inpatient and outpatient orders. Cleans and restocks the blood collection room and areas where collection trays and equipment are used/stored. Ensures technicians clean and stock their work area daily. Initiates emergency care procedures in the event a patient has reaction to blood collection procedure including fainting, hematoma, and anxiety. Verifies the patient as the individual denoted on the request and labels all tubes with the patient's name, social security number, and/or date of birth to ensure proper identification. All tubes drawn must be marked with the time and date of collection and the initials of the individual who drew them. Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions while drawing blood. This includes such things as wearing gloves and using needle protection devices. Provides customer relation services when receiving laboratory specimens from patients and other services within the Local Healthcare System. Serves as a subject matter expert for other healthcare professionals on the collection and processing of all laboratory testing. Reviews and accepts test request orders for samples submitted for testing. This includes accessioning samples into the laboratory. Evaluates the suitability of specimens for analysis, requesting new specimens if determined to be unusable. Prepares specimens for analysis, ensuring that the physiologic state of the specimen properties is maintained. Follows established protocol for handling of mislabeled/unlabeled specimens. Ensures samples are prioritized according to agency guidelines. Recognizes emergency testing situations and takes necessary action to direct the sample to the proper location. Notifies the laboratory staff of the need for emergent testing. Monitors proficient collection of blood samples with a minimal number of failures, patient bruising, or required sticks, and ensures that the samples are submitted to the clinical laboratory with minimal delay. Instructs employees in specific tasks and job techniques and makes available written instructions reference materials, and supplies. Provides initial employee training and remedial training as needed in accordance with established procedures and practices and evaluates competency of employees. Resolves many issues/problems independently in the majority of cases, depending on supervisor only for difficult or management concerns Operate standard office equipment, such as multiline phone, copier, scanner, fax, page printers, label printers, etc. Answer and route telephone calls to the appropriate personnel. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday : 4:30 am - 4:30 pm Rotating weekends and holidays Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. You may be required to serve a probationary 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) - See "Required Documents" below for details. Qualifications MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS GS-05: One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 grade level in Federal service performing technical medical laboratory support work such as: performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings; or 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. This experience must be documented in your resume to receive credit. ~OR~ A bachelor's degree or 4 years of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position (such as chemistry, biological sciences, hematology, microbiology, serology, etc.). Transcripts required. ~OR~ An equivalent combination of successfully completed specialized experience and post-high school education as described that demonstrates your ability to perform the duties of this position. Your experience must be documented, and transcripts are required. Physical Demands and Work Environment: The work requires some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring standing, walking, bending, or lifting up to 40 pounds. In many situations, the duration of the activity contributes to the arduous nature of the job. There may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination or good color vision. The work involves regular and recurring risks or discomforts associated with working in a clinical laboratory which require special safety techniques and universal precautions. Employees are required to use protective clothing or gear. Work areas must be maintained in a clean and organized fashion. 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for 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. 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.
