Medical Technician

Summary

These positions are located within the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Medical Center in North Chicago - IL.

Qualifications

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. For this Medical Technician - GS-5 position - you must 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~ 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~ An equivalent combination 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 This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (SPF). SPFs are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF 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 of this position requires regular and recurring physical exertion when standing for long periods of time - bending - standing - lifting - walking - stooping - and stretching. Work involves the regular risks and discomforts associated with working in a clinical laboratory - e.g. working with infectious substances - contagious disease - and irritating reagents. 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

• Follows procedures for patient identification - sample procurement - and specimen labeling Performs routine venipuncture specimen collections from patients Follows laboratory procedures for collecting specimens in the appropriate container Controls the physical condition of samples and responds to time factors to ensure that the physiologic state of the specimen is maintained Provides education to patients for proper collection techniques Prepares samples for testing to include labeling - centrifugation - decanting and aliquoting - etc
• Maintains adequate supplies for all phlebotomy and specimen procurement procedures Answers incoming calls for the laboratory service - finding and relaying accurate information or referring the caller to technical personnel Performs standard diagnostic tests/procedures such as bleeding time - occult blood - urine dipstick - pregnancy test - fingerstick glucose Performs sterilization on the autoclave - and cleans glassware and other reusable items Identifies and appropriately responds to adverse reactions such as fainting - nausea - vomiting - convulsions - and arrests Perform other related 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: Full time - 8:00am - 4:30pm - with rotating weekends and holidays - overtime may be required (2 positions)
• Full time - float - with variable start times between 5:00am and 8:30am (1 position)
• Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
• Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required.