Lab Assistant/Phlebotomist PRN

Trinity Health•Mason City, IA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

MercyOne North Iowa is the largest provider of health care services in its region and the largest employer in Cerro Gordo County. It is a private, not-for-profit health care center, licensed for 346 beds, serving over 400,000 inpatients and outpatients annually. MercyOne North Iowa is also a teaching institution, conducting various residency and fellowship programs and serving as a clinical training site for approximately 500 students from 127 different colleges across numerous medical fields. The organization's mission is to improve the health of its communities by providing care for the sick and promoting wellness. The Lab Assistant position at MercyOne involves supporting various laboratory departments by assisting technical staff in the collection, processing, analysis, and reporting of laboratory tests essential for patient diagnosis and treatment. This role is crucial for ensuring accurate and efficient handling of specimens, patient information, and testing workflows, thereby contributing to reliable test processes, smooth laboratory operations, timely turnaround, data integrity, and compliance with quality and safety standards.

Requirements

Strong computer skills with the ability to learn new systems and tools quickly.
Must be comfortable operating in a collaborative, shared leadership environment.
Must possess a personal presence that is characterized by a sense of honesty, integrity, and caring, with the ability to inspire and motivate others to promote the philosophy, mission, vision, goals, and values of Trinity Health and MercyOne.

Nice To Haves

Laboratory experience and knowledge of medical terminology preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs venipunctures, finger sticks, and heel sticks appropriate to patient age (neonates through geriatric adults) and ensures proper specimen collection according to laboratory policy.
Accepts specimens and requisitions from internal and external customers and manages add‑on orders and pending lists in accordance with laboratory procedures.
Identifies patients and specimens using two unique patient identifiers and accurately labels specimen containers to ensure correct identification.
Registers and logs specimens in the Laboratory Information System (LIS), evaluates specimen adequacy and acceptability, and scans required documentation into the patient record.
Performs specimen processing such as proper identification, aliquoting, plate streaking, slide preparation, special handling, and required documentation in accordance with laboratory protocols.
Assists in resolving problematic patient specimens and test orders in collaboration with laboratory staff and clients.
Follows safety, infection control, and chemical‑handling procedures and supports efficient workflow practices that promote accurate testing, timely turnaround, and productivity expectations.
Operates laboratory information systems proficiently to support accurate data entry and workflow management.
Contributes to general laboratory operations by restocking supplies, participating in peer teaching, and engaging in department or hospital committees and projects as assigned.