Duties

Summary

**CONTINUOUS VACANCY. APPLICANTS WILL BE REVIEWED AT THE NEEDS OF THE SERVICE**

This position is located in the Hampton VA Medical Center, in Laboratory Services. Primary purpose of this position is to perform duties related to phlebotomy and collection of specimens for testing. Position requires work in a variety of duties such verify patient orders, accessioning, drawing blood, sorting and processing specimens for testing, shipping, and performing basic laboratory test fecal occult blood.
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Responsibilities

Duties include but not limited to:

• Draw blood specimens from patients for testing, verify patient identification, and clarify any identification discrepancies.
• Select and prepare a venipuncture site for drawing the specimen considering patient comfort, amount of blood to be drawn, and the quality of the sample.
• Observe bio-safety precautions and isolation procedures with a minimum of discomfort to the patient.
• Label tubes with laboratory generated accession labels and other required information (i.e. time, date, initials, etc.).
• Perform the venipuncture with barrel needle collection devices or butterfly needle collection devices ensuring a quality specimen.
• Follow protocols for special handling and collection of blood samples. (i.e. blood cultures, specimens on ice, etc.).
• Inform responsible nursing personnel and complete the required documentation when a blood sample cannot be collected.
• Return specimens, inform appropriate person of any "STAT" or "Immediate" requests.
• Accept collected specimens in the computer, keep documentation updated and laboratory personnel informed of specimens not obtained.
• Stock drawing carts with adequate tubes and supplies for drawing patients, and clean the cart when needed.
• Follow Universal Precautions and proper infection control procedures.

Work Schedule: Mondday - Friday 7:00am-3:30pm - Incumbent may be required to work alternative tour as needed to include weekends, holidays and evening shift.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician - GS-0645-04 / 2466
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Travel Required

Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position to the various locations associated with the Hampton VA Medical Center.

Supervisory status
No

Promotion Potential
None

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 12/31/2019.
You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

Specialized Experience: You must possess six (6) months of general experience and six (6) months of specialized experience. General experience is any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position, or that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of specialized experience for this position may include the following: technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking), preparing reports of findings, or 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,

Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed (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 year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; OR (b) 1 year of study that included 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences, plus successful completion of the training course as described in (a) above for GS-3; 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.

OR,

Combination: Combination of education and experience that is sufficient to qualify at the GS-4 level. [Note: When combining experience and education, remember that any general experience in excess of six months cannot be used to qualify for this position. To combine education and experience, first determine how much of the qualifying experience or education you have. When combining education, you must have the same percentage of hours in related courses as you have education. For example, if you have half the education needed to substitute, you also need to have half the related courses required to substitute. Add the percentages together and if the total is 100% or more, then the combined education and experience is qualifying for the position.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Attention to Detail
• Manages and Organizes Information
• 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.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: 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 by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-04 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-03. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Physical Requirements: The work requires manual dexterity and exceptional hand/eye coordination, some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, bending, sitting over a microscope and concentrate for long periods of time while reading specimens and to stand for several consecutive hours during the preparation of specimens. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to arduous nature of the job. The position requires lifting of weight up to 44 pounds.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

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

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

PLEASE NOTE: 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 (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants can verify accreditation at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html . All education claimed by applicants will be verified by the appointing agency accordingly. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

Additional information

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

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application .

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, résumé, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for 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; 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.

Background checks and security clearance

Security clearance
Other

Drug test required
Yes

Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process
Suitability/Fitness

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

ARE YOU A CURRENT OR FORMER FEDERAL EMPLOYEE?
If applying as a status candidate with current or former Federal Service, provide a copy of your most recent SF-50, "Notification of Personnel Action" showing you are/were in the competitive service and the highest grade or promotion potential held. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. If stated as "required" in the "Required Documents" section of the announcement, provide a copy of your most recent signed Performance Appraisal (typically this will be the previous fiscal year's appraisal).

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.

Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Military Letter of Service
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Proof of Marriage Status
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit http://www.fedshirevets.gov/job/vetpref/index.aspx .

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.