Summary

These positions are located in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) with one vacancy at the Las Cruces VA Clinic in Las Cruces - NM - and two vacancies located at the El Paso VA Medical Center in El Paso - TX. The primary purpose of this position is to perform duties related to accessioning and processing laboratory specimens.

Qualifications

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: Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients. (This experience must be documented in your resume.) AND 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. In addition to the requirements listed above - the following is also required: EXPERIENCE: At least six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience that equipped you 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. (This experience must be documented in your resume.) OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): 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 (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. OR COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and experience - as described above. 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: This work requires physical exertion - such as regular and recurring running - walking - bending - lifting - or standing for long periods of time. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. In other situations - such as in a laboratory - there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity such as exceptional hand/eye coordination. 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*** Major Duties: Performs venipuncture on patients using proper disinfection and collection techniques Communicates the procedure to the patient in a professional and respectful manner Verifies the correct patient by using 2 levels of identification Complies with all laboratory safety and infection control policies Follows established guidelines for proper disposal of bio-hazardous substances - sharps and other potentially infectious materials Maintains phlebotomy supplies at established levels and stocks the specimen procurement station and specimen collection trays Receives - accessions - and prepares samples into the clinical laboratory for testing and/or transport Answers phone calls from nurses and providers with add on testing - and other facility staff with any additional questions or concerns Operates various lab equipment such as centrifuges - the vein finders - label printers - computers - and other equipment used within the laboratory Packages supplies and specimens for pick up or shipment Performs other simple laboratory tests/examinations such as occult blood - setting up sedimentary rates - etc
• Disposes of laboratory waste Assists in training newly hired personnel - students - nurses - etc
• in proper venipuncture technique - sample processing - ADP skills and procedures - clerical functions - etc
• Performs other related duties as assigned Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - Various shifts: 6:45am to 3:30pm 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