The position is located in one of the following: the Salisbury VA Health Care System (SVAHCS), Healthcare Centers (HCC) and Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOC).
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. For this Medical Technician, GS-5 position, do you have: 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. OR For this Medical Technician, GS-5 position, have you: Successfully completed 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 For this Medical Technician, GS-5 position, do you have: 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) 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: possess experience in performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients. (Application/resume materials must reflect this experience in detail to receive credit for this selective placement factor). 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 prolonged periods of walking, standing, bending and lifting up to 50 pounds and carrying of items, to lean over patients and equipment and to work while wearing PPE. In other situations, in the laboratory, there may be special requirements for agility or dexterity, such as exceptional hand/eye coordination or · color differentiation. Finger dexterity and hand eye coordination required to find hard to locate veins and to handle needles and tubes while maintaining adequate blood flow for collection In some areas, performing morning rounds, employees may be required to travel between buildings in the dark or walking in weather to buildings which are not accessible through tunnels. 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/.
***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: Accepts computer and written requests for all clinical departments, both surgical and medicine. Performs phlebotomy using appropriate and established venipuncture techniques and universal precautions, being careful to avoid areas close to never bundles and arteries. Assess patient's physical, mental, and emotional status prior to collection as well as determine the best equipment to use for each patient's veins. Observes patient tolerance and implements emergent actions and reports status of patient to appropriate staff in a timely manner. Collects samples of the many special anticoagulants and testing requirements for routine and complex testing both pre- and post-collection, being careful to choose the correct sample and tube types. Evaluates and recognizes any visible signs of poor-quality samples, including hemolysis, clots in anticoagulated tubes, unspun or incompletely spun, especially for morning collects. Maintains complete and accurate labeling of all sample and aliquots and accurate and timely handling/processing of specimens is the crucial step to producing quality results. Prepares solutions for various glucose and lactose tolerance testing on patients, assuring that they have properly prepared as instructed for diet and fasting state. Accurately determines dosage of glucose/lactose according to test ordered factoring in age, weight, and pregnancy as necessary. Properly applies pressure to the puncture site, evaluates for bruising or excessive bleeding, and bandages appropriately. Assure all documentation is present, determines the number of specimens needed to collect and verifies reviews patient record to verify if type and screen was performed. Prepares and performs specialized samples and procedures as directed in hematology, chemistry, blood bank, microbiology, urinalysis and coagulation studies. Performs all duties as assigned. 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: M-F day, evening and nights with rotating weekends and holidays Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized