Medical Technician

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

DUTIES:

• Using microscopes centrifuges incubators balances and instruments to perform laboratory tests and analyze body fluids and other substances to determine the presence or absence of disease or other abnormal conditions;

• Receiving collecting sorting recording storing and/or shipping clinical laboratory specimens so that appropriate testing/diagnostic procedures can be performed;

• Obtaining additional data or information from healthcare providers as needed;

• Maintaining the laboratory and equipment in a clean and safe condition;

• Calibrating and maintaining laboratory instrumentation and equipment;

• Monitoring specimens equipment and laboratory for acceptability;

• Ensuring that sufficient supply of reagents standards and controls are available at all times; and preparing reagents controls etc.;

• Recommending changes in procedure to improve efficiency accurately and safety;

• Establishing inventory and equipment maintenance requirements and maintaining appropriate inventories and maintenance schedules;

• Assisting in training personnel and/or students in laboratory procedures and laboratory safety;

• Functioning as a point of contact for implementation of safety regulations and safe working conditions and is accountable to the supervisory to report conditions and progress on eliminating discrepancies;

• Accepting/documenting incoming patient specimens using the designated computer system;

• Processing specimens and selecting appropriate procedures based on knowledge of the type of specimens patient information and laboratory resources;

• Reporting all specimen problems according to established guidelines;

• Performing a variety of laboratory tests both new and established that involve very fine distinctions in analytical methods;

• Entering test results into hospital computer system verifying the accuracy completeness and validity;

• Evaluating the validity of data in relation to the test system and assay procedures;

• Correlating and integrating information and performing additional testing to confirm abnormal results as per policies and procedures;

• Participating in quality assurance activities;

• Performing related duties as required.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 5:00am - 11:30pm (8-hr shift with rotating weekends and holidays.)
Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Telework: Not Authorized

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• 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.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7 2025 drivers licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

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.

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.

To qualify for this position at the GS-4 level you must meet one of the following:

• 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 (KSAs) 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 applicants 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. Qualifying examples of specialized experience: are : Applies knowledge of basic specimen collection requirements order draw infection control techniques site selection and integrity of sample. Would need assistance performing specialized specimen collections. Take vitals of patients and monitor patients. Uses a computerized system to enter and retrieve test results.
  
  
  Note: Experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title duties month and year start/end dates AND hour worked per week.
  OR

• EDUCATION: 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 years 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 years 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. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application)
  OR

• COMBINATION: Equivalent combinations of post-high school education and experience as described above. (Transcripts must be submitted at time of application)

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