Summary

This position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) at the Portland VA Medical Center.

Qualifications

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION AT THE GS-5 LEVEL YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: 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~ SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: At least one (1) full year of specialized experience - equivalent to at least the GS-4 grade level - 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. 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. At this level - specialized experience should include experience performing a variety of relatively standardized tests - examinations - and determinations. The procedures and techniques are well-established but involve many meticulous sequential steps to complete a test; and following written procedures which give carefully detailed instructions on each step of the assigned test and examinations. (Experience must be documented on your resume in order to receive credit.) ~OR~ EDUCATION SUBSTITUTION: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position to be filled. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application) ~OR~ COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and specialized experience - as described above. Note: only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study - or 60 semester hours - beyond the second year is equivalent to l year of specialized experience. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application) ~AND~ SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR: 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. 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 extensive periods of standing and walking - regular and recurring bending - moderate lifting - stooping and stretching. The work area is well lighted - heated and ventilated. The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks of exposure to infectious materials which require special safety precautions. There is contact with potentially biologically hazardous specimens (some of which may contain hepatitis or HIV virus). There is frequent contact with patients with undiagnosed illnesses and the employee has the potential to be exposed to communicable disease. Employees are mandated to use appropriate personal protective equipment. 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 and responsibilities include: Following procedures for patient identification - sample procurement - and specimen labeling
• Performing routine venipuncture specimen collections from patients
• Following laboratory procedures for collecting specimens in the appropriate container
• Controlling the physical condition of samples and responding to time factors to ensure that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained
• Providing education to patients for proper collection techniques
• Preparing samples for testing to include labeling - centrifugation - decanting and aliquoting - etc
• Maintaining adequate supplies for all phlebotomy and specimen procurement procedures
• Answering incoming calls for the laboratory service - finding and relaying accurate information or referring the caller to technical personnel
• Performing standard diagnostic tests/procedures such as bleeding time - occult blood - urine dipstick - pregnancy test - fingerstick glucose
• Performing sterilization on the autoclave - and cleaning glassware and other reusable items
• Identifying and appropriately responding to adverse reactions such as fainting - nausea - vomiting - convulsions - and arrests
• Performing other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 1:30pm to 10:00pm with rotating holidays
• Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved 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.