There are three (3) positions in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the at VA North Florida/South Georgica Health Care - one (1) at Jacksonville 1 VA Clinic and two (2) at Jacksonville North VA Clinic in Jacksonville, FL. The Medical Technician responsible for collecting, accessioning, and specimen processing of outpatient and inpatient populations samples.
Minimum Requirement: The following are minimum requirements for appointment as a Medical Technician in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). One of the following minimum requirement criteria must be met to be qualified for this position. Specialized Experience (GS-05): You must have at least one (1) full year 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. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (i.e., GS-04). 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. (CLEAR DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE REQUIRED: Your resume must show complete information for each job entry, such as beginning and ending dates of employment, duties performed, and/or total hours worked per week.) OR, Education (GS-05): Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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 (e.g., chemistry, hematology, blood banking, and microbiology [including serology], biological science) NOTE: 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. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript, your application may not be reviewed.) OR, Combination (GS-05): Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education, 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 1 year of specialized experience. (UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED: If you do not submit your transcript, your application may not be reviewed.) 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. 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 requirement 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 Interpersonal Effectiveness Specimen Collection Technical Competence 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: Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere and requires regular and physical exertion such as sitting (2-4 hours), walking (6-8 hours), repetitive bending (6-8 hours), standing (6-8 hours), moderate lifting (14-30 pounds), and average carrying (14-30 pounds). The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities, and dexterity needed to perform complex analytical and technical procedures. Use of both hands and all fingers required, both legs required, ability to reach beyond shoulder (2 hours), ability to pull hand over fist (0.25 hours), ability to push (0.5 hours). Capacity for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, near vision correctable at 13" to 16" Jaeger 1 to 4, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other, both eyes required, Depth perception, Normal color vision, hearing (aid permitted), mental and emotional stability. Performing phlebotomy and entering patient information, test orders, and data in a computer may expose the technician to repetitive motion. 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*** 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. Major duties and responsibilities include but not limited to: Performing employee and handling of specimens in accordance with Federal Workplace Drug Testing Program as administered and regulated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for drug testing of employees Performing venipuncture collections with minimal number of failures, patient bruising, or requiring patient call backs for requested laboratory test Accessioning laboratory tests via the use of VISTA and can build, add/remove tests, edit, print and build collection list in Vista Using standard aseptic procedures and adhere to safety, infection control, and universal precautions while drawing blood Preparing specimens for testing, such as labeling, centrifugation, decanting, and aliquoting Operating pneumatic tube system and centrifuges, reporting any malfunctions to supervisor or appropriate off shift personnel Accessing and retrieving samples using the sample monitor locating the sample location from the archive rack for add-on test Utilizing a variety of reference material to determine specimen and storage requirements, quantity, patient preparation, etc. of any requested laboratory test, including reference lab tests Securing confidence and cooperation of patient during phlebotomy by explaining procedure and positioning patient for desired results Providing training for new employees and students on how to operate and trouble-shoot automated instruments Work Schedule: Monday to Friday: Jacksonville 1 VA Clinic (06:30 a.m. to 03:00 p.m.) and one (1) Jacksonville North VA Clinic (07:00 a.m. to 03:30 p.m.); Times outside of these hours maybe required due to staffing and patient care Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved