Health Technician - Phlebotomy Job in Eugene, OR

Vacancy No. CBSV-12656775-25-MW Department Veterans Health Administration
Salary $44,959.00 to $58,445.00 Grade 6 to 6
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 1/6/2025 Close Date 1/15/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Eugene, OR


Summary

The incumbent serves is responsible for performing multiple duties in the central accessioning and specimen processing area. These complex duties include reference laboratory specimen processing, clerical functions, patient testing and outpatient phlebotomy.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS. DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.201) for this occupation.

Duties

Major duties include but is not limited to:

  • Receives and prepares requests for testing and specimens into the clinical laboratory and verifies the accuracy and completeness of the requests
  • Identifies unusual conditions and discrepancies which may cause erroneous test results
  • Accessions all requests into the hospital computer system
  • Receives telephonic inquiries and corrects discrepancies with hospital personnel
  • Follows procedures for processing biological specimens, understands sample requirements for tests and clearly communicates those requirements
  • Separates and routes the specimens to the specific laboratory section that performs the testing
  • Assists healthcare personnel who deliver specimens by directing them to the place the specimens in the proper location
  • Notifies laboratory staff of the need for emergency testing
  • Operates various types of laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, refrigerators, freezers and eyewash stations
  • Performs preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment
  • Receives all specimens that are sent to commercial reference laboratories for testing
  • Verifies proper patient preparation, specimen collection and specimen transport requirements for all reference laboratory tests
  • Takes appropriate action to correct and solve problems pertaining to reference laboratory rests
  • Serves as a reference for other healthcare professionals on collection and processing of reference laboratory testing
  • Serves at the reference and the processer for complex specialized Hematology/Oncology sample to include Flow, Cytogenetic, and Fish testing among others on both peripheral blood and bone marrow
  • Performs a limited amount of patient testing
  • Responsible for processing anatomic pathology samples
  • Follows established safety and infection control procedures while performing patient testing duties
  • Completes annual training on exposure to Formaldehyde, exposure to biohazardous substances and general safety procedures
  • Answers incoming call for Pathology and Laboratory Services quickly finding and relaying accurate information, performs dispositions of add-on orders
  • Functions as a resource person and troubleshooter, assists clinical personnel in executing laboratory information system order entry and results options, prepares referral specimens for shipment
  • Contacts physicians for clarification of requests and justification of need for send-out testing, packages and ships containers following regulatory guidelines, maintains shipping certification
  • Assists the laboratory in functions such as checking temperatures, stocks supplies and rotating stock appropriately
  • Draws bloods for outpatients for requested laboratory testing using special drawing techniques, assuring proper tubes are used and correct amount of blood is drawn
  • Must be proficient in phlebotomy
  • Verifies the patient as the individual n the requests and labels all tubes with two unique identifiers including patient name, social security number, DOD ID number, date and time to insure proper identification. Initials all tubes drawn
  • Collects glucose tolerance or lactose tolerance specimens
  • Prepares the collection site and drawing blood cultures
  • Collects timed specimens such as growth hormone, peak and trough drug levels or cortisol levels
  • Instructions patients n proper sterile midstream urine collection, 24 hour urine collections, non-sterile urine collection and collection of specimens for culture and sensitivity such as ova and parasites and occult bloods
  • Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions while drawing blood or working with patient specimens or within the laboratory
  • Wear appropriate personal protective equipment and using needle protective devices
  • Observes and reports any physical or mental changes while patients are being drawn; alerts the appropriate personnel if necessary
  • Follows hospital and section procedures when dealing with outpatient medical emergencies
  • Performs other duties as needed

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm
Position Description Title/PD#: Health Technician - Phlebotomy/PD30652A
Physical Requirements: Work is performed in a laboratory atmosphere ad requires regular and physical exertion such as walking, bending, recurrent standing and moderate lifting. The work requires specific physical characteristics and abilities and dexterity needed to perform intricate analytical and technical procedures. Entering patient information, test orders and data in a computer may result in physical problems from the effects of motion and eyestrain. Laboratory instrumentation makes constant noises which could lead to hearing loss over long periods of exposure. The position may also require assisting geriatric and/or disabled patients. The incumbent must have normal color vision.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/suitability investigation
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • May serve a probationary period
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • A complete application package; Resume, Transcripts, etc
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Personnel
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

GS-06 grade level: One year (52 weeks) of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the federal service); experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA's) and other characteristics to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Specialized experience includes: Use of proper specimen collection techniques such as phlebotomy, venipuncture, finger sticks, urine; Collects, processes, & stores samples according to general collection protocols. Uses proper infection control, laboratory safety, and universal precautions when collecting samples. Performs various technical laboratory procedures such as computer test access, computer search for past and future patient lab orders.

English Proficiency Requirement: 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.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Specimen Collection
  • Infection Control
  • Medical Information
  • Communications
  • Critical Thinking

There is no educational substitution for the GS-06 level.

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; religions; 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.

Additional information

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer (TJO). Please visit the Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP), va.gov/EMPLOYEE/docs/The-Fair-Chance-to-Compete-Act.pdf for more information.

The following will be communicated to applicants for VA employment in a testing designated position and will also be included in all VA vacancy announcements for such positions: All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Resume Reminder - Your resume must include the following information for each job listed:
Job title
Duties (be as detailed as possible)
Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)
Salary/Rank etc.
Series and Grade, if applicable, for all Federal positions you have held
References, current or recent supervisor

Recommended: Even though we do not require a specific resume format, your resume must be clear so that we are able to fully evaluate your qualifications to ensure you receive appropriate consideration. If we are unable to match your experiences with the positions held, you may lose consideration for this vacancy. We cannot make assumptions regarding your qualifications.


IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Applicants will be referred in the order in which they were received.

Required Documents

Documents Accepted:

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • License
  • Other (1)
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Professional Certification
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

Documents Required:
  • Resume

Please review the above list(s) to ensure you have included all necessary documents required for your application.Not every applicant will require the same documents, therefore it is the applicants responsibility to ensure that their application package includes all necessary documents to determine qualifications and eligibility for appointment, such as a copy of your SF-50, transcript, ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).You will not be contacted for additional information. Applicants will be deemed ineligible if supporting documentation is not submitted.

Veterans' Preference: Since the Direct-Hire Recruitment Authority is being used, traditional Veterans' Preference rules do not apply. Qualified veterans will, however, be given full consideration for this position.

Applications are accepted online. Applying online will allow you to review and track the status of your application.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online.

To apply for this position, you must complete the occupational questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (EST) on 01/15/2025 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12656775.

1. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USAJOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire.

2. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package.

NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation is submitted prior to the closing date. To verify your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login, select the Application Status link and then select the More Information link for this position. The Details page will display the status of your application, the documentation received and processed, and any correspondence the agency has sent related to this application. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

To return to an incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account and click Update Application in the vacancy announcement. You must re-select your resume and/or other documents from your USAJOBS account or your application will be incomplete.

Agency contact information

Merlinda Winbush
Address
Roseburg VA Medical Center
913 Northwest Garden Valley Boulevard
Roseburg, OR 97471
US
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Participation in the seasonal influenza program is a condition of employment and a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). It is a requirement that all HCP to receive annual seasonal influenza vaccination or obtain an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Wearing a face mask is required when an exemption to the influenza vaccination has been granted. HCP in violation of this directive may face disciplinary action up to and including removal from federal service. HCP are individuals who, during the influenza season, work in VHA locations or who come into contact with VA patients or other HCP as part of their duties. VHA locations include, but are not limited to, VA hospitals and associated clinics, community living centers (CLCs), community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs), domiciliary units, Vet centers and VA-leased medical facilities. HCP include all VA licensed and unlicensed, clinical and administrative, remote and onsite, paid and without compensation, full- and part-time employees, intermittent employees, fee basis employees, VA contractors, researchers, volunteers and health professions trainees (HPTs) who are expected to perform any or all of their work at these facilities. HPTs may be paid or unpaid and include residents, interns, fellows and students. HCP also includes VHA personnel providing home-based care to Veterans and drivers and other personnel whose duties put them in contact with patients outside VA medical facilities.

After the vacancy announcement closes, applicants are evaluated to ensure qualification and eligibility requirements are met. After the review is complete, a referral certificate(s) is issued and applicants will be notified of their status by email.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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