Summary This position serves as a Medical Technician (Phlebotomist) in Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (P&MLS) at the Fargo VA Health Care System, Fargo, ND. The technician performs phlebotomy in the emergency room, inpatient, outpatient, and extended care areas of the hospital and associated clinics. Incumbent also performs a variety of computer, customer service, instruction, and communication tasks. Responsibilities 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. Specimen Collection 65% Receives and processes requests for lab testing, verifying the accuracy and completeness of the requests. The phlebotomist interacts with the appropriate hospital personnel to correct any discrepancies. Using proper patient identification and sample labeling the incumbent collects blood, urine and other specimens for a wide range of testing. The employee ensures safe, non-traumatic processes are used to maintain patient safety and assure specimen quality. Incumbent performs blood collection using venipunctures and capillary finger sticks with a minimal number of failures, patient bruising, or required repeat collection, ensuring that samples are submitted to the clinical laboratory with the least possible delay. The incumbent must be able to demonstrate skills and knowledge in various specimen procurement and the preservation of the specimen until testing can be performed. The primary individual responsibility is specimen collection. Specimen Handling & Computer Duties 25% Assists in the laboratory by processing incoming specimens to ensure proper labeling; specimen and paperwork agree, and proper specimen collected (correct tube @type used, formed versus unformed stool). Print accession labels for the processed samples and delivery to the correct department with placement of the samples on the automated analyzer within the laboratory. Performs troubleshooting processes to resolve specimen orders/integrity issues which involves clear communication with ordering providers, lab staff, and nursing staff. Makes notation of duplicate orders to be cancelled. Shares the sample between departments as needed to ensure all requested testing can be completed. Operates multiple @types of centrifuges to process specimens. Fills out requisition forms for specimens to be sent to reference laboratories. Processes samples to be sent to reference labs by ensuring the correct storage location and labeling requirements are met Ensures that specimens are maintained at the proper temperature and conditions to ensure sample integrity (on ice, protected from light), as required by the test ordered. Must properly prioritize STAT, ASAP, and routine specimen collection. The technician must be familiar with tests performed and specimen requirements throughout the laboratory, i.e. histology, microbiology, chemistry, blood bank, and hematology to make appropriate specimen delivery. Communication, Clerical, and Administrative Support 10% Provides education to patients regarding the collection of blood samples and potential complications, collection of a routine urinalysis, 24-hour urine collection, and other collection requirements as needed. Assists patients with laboratory check-in, obtains required pre-analytical information from patients, and provide patient-entered care and excellent customer service to patients, visitors, and other members of the health care team. 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. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday, 7:30am-4:00PM, and rotating weekends and holidays. Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved 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 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) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for these positions you must meet the following requirements. 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~ 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: "Do you have experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients?" ~AND~ In addition to meeting the English Language Proficiency and Selective Placement Factor, to qualify for this position, you must also meet one of the following: Experience: At least six (6) months of general experience, and six (6) months of specialized experience that equipped me 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 General Experience is: (1) Any @type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. 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. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must clearly indicate the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. ~OR~ Education: Successfully completed (a) an associate-degree course of study of which the 2nd year of the 2-year program included successful completion of a training course of approximately a year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; (b) 1 year of study that included 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences, plus successful completion of (a) a full-time training course of approximately a year's duration in a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) school that included instruction in chemistry, hematology, blood banking, and microbiology (including serology) and that, in addition, included supervised laboratory practice incident to the diagnostic process and the treatment of patients; or (c) 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours of chemistry and/or biological science course work that must have been directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and experience, as described above. NOTE: Transcripts must be submitted with your application materials. Education cannot be credited without documentation. You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position: Computer Skills Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Patient Care Quality Assurance Specimen 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 manual dexterity and exceptional hand/eye coordination, some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, reaching, bending, and to stand for several consecutive hours during the collection and of specimens. Work is performed at a fast pace. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Position requires occasional lifting of reagent/supply containers weighing up to 20 pounds. 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). Additional Information Note: Per "Executive Order 14251: Exclusions from Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs", this position is no longer eligible for bargaining unit participation. 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.
