Summary

The incumbent serves as a Medical Technician in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service at the VA Medical Center in Manchester - NH. This position is full-time at 40HRS/ week.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 03/17/2025. Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): This series requires applicants to meet the following pre-requisite's below in order to be considered minimally qualified. You will also need to meet the experience listed under "Grade Determination" For positions at GS-4 and above: (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. 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. Grade Determination - GS-5 Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Performing blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques including vacutainer systems - syringe - butterfly - and/or capillary finger sticks; collecting blood specimens - assesses patient condition before - during - and after procedures; ensures correct container and order of draw; processes emergency specimens and routine specimens in a timely manner; uses a computer to retrieve laboratory test information; identifies inpatients and outpatients for whom laboratory tests have been ordered - and prints labels for appropriate blood samples; Interacts with patients - visitors - staff - students and volunteers in a courteous - helpful - tactful - cooperative - respectful and compassionate manner. OR Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have 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) Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of phlebotomy experience in a clinical setting 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. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Computer Skills Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Patient Care Quality Assurance Specimen Collection 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. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. 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. Physical Requirements: The work requires regular - recurrent standing and bending to perform phlebotomy. 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

• Primary duties include functioning as a technical and customer service resource for customers utilizing laboratory services
• Receives all specimens coming into the laboratory and determines if specimen meets laboratory specimen acceptability criteria
• If the specimen is acceptable - incumbent accessions the tests in the laboratory computer system - delivers specimen directly to the analytic area - utilizes centrifuges - volumetric measuring devices or balances in preparing the specimens for analysis - storage or shipment to a reference laboratory in the most efficient manner possible
• Functions as a computer resource - either in person or by phone - troubleshooting problems that clerks or providers may encounter while placing laboratory orders
• Fields inquiries about tests that are not available at our facility and must be sent to various reference laboratories for analysis - requiring knowledge and utilization of databases and web resources
• Determines the need for and initiates specialized procedures for special handling - unusual or infrequently ordered tests
• Interacts with hospital personnel to correct discrepancies
• Recognizes emergency (stat) situations and takes necessary action
• The incumbent determines the appropriate reference laboratory to utilize - the necessary specimen requirements - the proper storage and transport mechanisms to ensure the most expeditious and efficient method
• Makes sound independent decisions regarding reference laboratory resources available - and quickly finds and relays accurate information
• Operates equipment used for testing to include calibrated centrifuges and storage devices in various calibrated temperature ranges - where safe and exacting operation is necessary to ensure the integrity of the specimen is maintained for accurate test results
• When dividing specimens - verifies that secondary tubes are labeled exactly and correctly according to strict specimen labeling policies
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday (rotating day shift) Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Not Authorized Telework/Virtual/Remote Work: Not Authorized Position Description/PD#:Medical Technician /PD00188A Relocation or Travel Incentives: Not Authorized Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Notifications: This position is a NAGE Bargaining Unit position
• The incumbent may be required to travel to other VA campuses and CBOC's
• Selectee may be required to work at any VISN 1 Healthcare System campus - as needed
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• This position is in the Competitive Service
• Time-in-Grade Restriction: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements
• The grade may have been in any occupation but must have been held in the Federal service
• Veterans' preference does not apply for other current permanent Federal agency employees.