Lab Aide

The University of Kansas Health System•Olathe, KS

About The Position

The Lab Aide provides direct patient care for the Laboratory by obtaining blood specimens from hospital inpatients, outpatients, Emergency Care, and Day Surgery. The role receives, inspects, and processes samples for laboratory testing, performs basic testing and analyzer operations, and is trained in specific clinical processes and procedures performed within and outside the laboratory. The position uses the Cerner Laboratory Information System (LIS) and is full-time on the day shift, with a 4:00 a.m. start time.

Requirements

High school graduate.
Ability to perform the professional, clinical, or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
Consistently meet the work schedule.

Nice To Haves

Previous laboratory aide experience.

Responsibilities

Investigate specimen requirements and ensure specimen integrity throughout pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes, including checking identification, sample type and volume, and potential rejection issues such as hemolysis, lipemia, or clotting.
Seal, store, transport, and document samples properly.
Organize work independently to support department efficiency and complete testing within laboratory turnaround-time expectations; take appropriate action when needed.
Use resources effectively, including consulting Certified Medical Technologists when questions or problems arise.
Perform and verify moderately complex laboratory testing, including automated chemistry, cell counter, and coagulation testing, and report results with appropriate documentation in the LIS.
Dispense blood products to nursing personnel or couriers by verifying requests, selecting the correct product, performing positive patient identification, and recording the dispensing in the LIS.
Prepare microbiology culture samples and gram stains.
Perform and verify waived testing in the laboratory.
Use required Cerner functions, including Collection List, Specimen Log In, Order Result Viewer, Container Inquiry, Department Order Entry, Requisition Order Entry, ABN, Modify Collections, Request A Chart, and Manual Expedite.
Assist in training new employees, students, radiology technicians, and ECC technicians.
Perform instrument start-up, maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting, with proper documentation.
Perform, evaluate, and document required quality control and take appropriate corrective action.
Monitor Specimen Collection Inquiry; add test orders, cancel or credit duplicate tests, log in specimens, and identify when patients need to be drawn.
Deliver specimens to the proper departments, centrifuge specimens, promptly respond to the pneumatic tube system, and order tests for send-out, nursing home, or reference patients.
Answer telephones promptly and courteously, communicate laboratory information to callers, and help resolve questions and problems.
Provide accurate and complete hand-off communication to the next shift.
Order supplies for send-out testing.
Consistently meet the work schedule and perform the professional, clinical, or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
Perform other duties as assigned.