Summary This position is in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), South Central VA Health Care Network (VISN 16), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center (MEDVAMC) in Houston, Texas, under Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) in Inpatient and/or Outpatient Specimen Acquisition. A Medical Technician (phlebotomist) performs a variety of clinical and administrative functions. Responsibilities Major Duties: Draws blood from patients for requested laboratory tests. This includes special drawing techniques and assuring proper tubes are used and the correct amount of blood is drawn. Verifies patient as the individual denoted on the request and labels all tubes with the patient's name, social security number, date and time to insure proper identification. Performs glucose Tolerance Tests and other specialized blood collections as indicated. Incumbent has direct patient contact and must treat all patients with the utmost courtesy and respect. Performs all @types of specimen collection in a courteous manner. Provides for patient comfort. Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while drawing specimen samples. This includes such things as removing tourniquets and wearing gloves. Must be proficient in the area of phlebotomy, being able to work with even the most difficult patients and follows proper procedures for redrawing blood. In addition, must develop the essential speed required to complete the blood drawing duties. Instructs patients in proper sterile midstream urine collections, 24-hour urine collection and the collection of specimens for culture and sensitivity, ova parasites and occult bloods. Assists in teaching laboratory and CBOC personnel theoretical and practical aspects of phlebotomy, a variety of specimen collections, and urine/blood specimen requirements. Must be able to respond to, report and assist in emergency situations. Must know first aid procedures for the care of patients who become sick or faint while having blood drawn. Observes and reports any physical or mental changes while patients are being drawn. Performs and exhibits knowledge and skills specific to the adult and geriatric patient. Provides care based on psychosocial, educational, safety and related criteria, appropriate to the age of patients served. Uses the VA computer system when processing specimens. Samples are accepted into the computer for testing, or the order removed from the computer if samples are not collected. Protects the security of the computer system and maintains patient confidentiality. Maintains accurate and orderly operational and quality control logs, records and worksheets where required according to established department protocol. Assures that phlebotomy tray is adequately replenished as required. Performs other specialized accessioning procedures as directed in Hematology, Special Hematology, Chemistry, Special Chemistry, Blood Bank (blood gases) and in Microbiology (blood cultures). Assists with maintaining a neat and clean work area. Assists with heavy workload. Willingly helps other Medical Technician (phlebotomist) who need assistance. Work Schedule: Various schedules from Monday to Friday 03:30 pm-12:00 am / 04:00 am to 12;30 pm / 12:00 am- 08:00 am / 07:00 am- 3:30 pm Alternating Holidays & Weekends. Tour of Duty will be based on position selected, subject to change based on the needs of the facility. Telework: Not authorized for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician - Phlebotomist/PD04163A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required 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 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 or 2-year trial 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 or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/15/2026. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Individuals Occupational Requirements: Applicants who meet the Individual Occupational Requirements described below are fully qualified for the specified entry grade and must also meet the specialized experience and/or education requirements. Specialized Experience: (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. OR, Education and Training: For GS-4: Successful completion of (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 the training course as described in (a) above for GS-3; 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. In addition to meeting the above Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR), applicants must also meet the specialized experience directly related to this position. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have 6 months of specialized experience and 6 months of general experience equivalent to at described below. General Experience includes: (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. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Providing patient care appropriate to the age of the patient being served, recognizing differences in patients and adjusting their care accordingly. Performing 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. Assessing the quality of samples collected, readings and measurements taken, tests executed, observations made, and work completed. Venipuncture and correct preparation of specimens necessary to obtain the required quantities of specimens needed for a variety of laboratory examinations performed. Processing all specimens according to strict guidelines to assure specimen integrity. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed 2 years above high school with courses related to the occupation. Note: 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. (Transcripts Required). OR, Combination: Possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements at the GS-4 level. (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED) 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, stooping, pushing, pulling, reaching, walking, bending, lifting of light/moderate objects (
