Lab Assistant, FT

Johnson Regional Medical Center•Clarksville, AR

4d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible for cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing various equipment, media and work areas in the Clinical Laboratory. Maintains Clinical Laboratory inventory and performs various plating of specimens and staining under the supervision of the Laboratory Manager. Participates in performance improvement activities. Demonstrates Competency in the Following Areas: Consistently draws blood competently and expediently with as little patient discomfort as possible. Records phlebotomy requisitions in logbook. Identifies the patient - comparing patient information on the requisition to the patient’s identification band before venipuncture is performed. Displays courteous, professional manner towards patients, co-workers, nursing and medical staff. Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors. Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality. Labels and records all test tubes, logs procedures, files paperwork. Is knowledgeable about which color top tube to use and the volume of blood needed - knows test requirements. Follows Standard Precautions at all times. Disposes all sharps in a rigid sharps container. Cleans and supplies venipuncture trays. Maintains work areas. Orders supplies when needed. Requires minimal supervision in performance of job duties. Completes duties in a time efficient manner, knows how to prioritize STAT orders, ASAP orders, scheduled orders and outpatients. Seeks guidance and direction as necessary. Demonstrates the value of team concept on a consistent basis. Assists laboratory technician, does clerical work when needed. Follows policies and procedures for the Clinical Laboratory and the hospital. Performs routine and stat laboratory assays. Performs qualitative urine analysis; color, clarity, specific gravity. Demonstrates knowledge of expected lab results for the infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric patient. Makes Medical Technologist and/or Pathologist aware of abnormal results, panic values. Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors. Supports and maintains a culture of safety and quality. Follows standard precautions at all times. Operates and maintains equipment correctly and safely, including calibration of instruments. Mains quality results by running standards and controls; verifies equipment function through routine equipment maintenance and advanced troubleshooting; monitors quality control measures and protocols. Identifies the presence or quantity of drugs of abuse, therapeutic drugs and toxic substances by operating toxicology instrumentation and performing manual methods for the performance of drug screens, blood alcohol levels and carbon monoxide levels. Provides test results for patient diagnosis and treatment by operating chemistry equipment, performing hand chemistries. Operates hematology, urinalysis and coagulation equipment; performing manual methods of differentials. Operates equipment such as the gamma counter, spectrophotometer, densitometer, and through methods such as radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay and serological testing. Performs technical procedures for the identification or susceptibility of bacteria, parasites, fungi and mycobacteria. Uses hospital approved disinfectants for cleaning. Dries appropriate glassware in heating oven before storing in designated areas. Sterilizes bacteriology media and contaminated materials using the autoclave. Prepares liquid powder and crystalline chemicals to prepare stains, solutions and culture media following established formulas. Uses a simplified balance to weigh chemicals. Responsible for plating all cultures including fungus, acid fast and routine cultures on all specimens submitted to the Clinical Laboratory. Responsible for performing all routine stains on submitted specimens, including gram stains and Wright’s stains. Responsible for inventory in laboratory storeroom. Reports needed supplies to Medical Technologist. Initiates the meeting of responsibilities without prompting. Demonstrates the values of team concept on a consistent basis. Submits suggestions to improve the Clinical Laboratory’s efficiency. Interacts with other Clinical Laboratory staff in a professional manner. Professional Requirements: Adheres to dress code, appearance is neat and clean. Completes annual education requirements. Mains regulatory requirements. Mains patient confidentiality at all times. Reports to work on time and as scheduled, completes work within designated time. Wears identification while on duty, uses computerized punch time system correctly. Completes in-services and returns in a timely fashion. Attends annual review and department in-services, as scheduled. Attends 12 staff meetings annually or reads and returns all staff meeting minutes. Represents the organization in a positive and professional manner. Actively participates in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities. Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practices. Communicates the mission, ethics and goals of the facility, as well as the focus statement of the department.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
Basic computer knowledge required.
Normal hospital environment.
Exposure to biological hazards via venous punctures.
Close eye work.
Hearing within normal range.
Oral communication with patients.
Operates computer terminals and printers, centrifuges, lab refrigerator and freezers, and telephone.
Continuous standing and walking.
Lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds.
Occasional pushing/pulling up to 40 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Certification as a medical technician preferred.
Additional languages preferred.

Responsibilities

Cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing equipment, media and work areas.
Maintaining Clinical Laboratory inventory.
Performing plating of specimens and staining.
Participating in performance improvement activities.
Drawing blood competently and expediently.
Recording phlebotomy requisitions in logbook.
Identifying patients by comparing identification bands to requisitions.
Displaying courteous and professional manner towards patients and staff.
Performing patient care in an environment that optimizes safety and reduces errors.
Supporting and maintaining a culture of safety and quality.
Labeling and recording test tubes, logging procedures, and filing paperwork.
Knowing correct tube tops and blood volumes for tests.
Following Standard Precautions.
Disposing of sharps in appropriate containers.
Cleaning and supplying venipuncture trays.
Maintaining work areas and ordering supplies.
Completing duties efficiently and prioritizing orders.
Seeking guidance and direction as necessary.
Demonstrating team concept.
Assisting laboratory technicians and performing clerical work.
Following policies and procedures for the Clinical Laboratory and hospital.
Performing routine and stat laboratory assays.
Performing qualitative urine analysis (color, clarity, specific gravity).
Demonstrating knowledge of expected lab results for all patient age groups.
Notifying Medical Technologist and/or Pathologist of abnormal results or panic values.
Operating and maintaining equipment correctly and safely, including calibration.
Maintaining quality results by running standards and controls.
Verifying equipment function through routine maintenance and troubleshooting.
Monitoring quality control measures and protocols.
Operating toxicology instrumentation and performing manual methods for drug screens, blood alcohol levels, and carbon monoxide levels.
Operating chemistry equipment and performing hand chemistries.
Operating hematology, urinalysis, and coagulation equipment, and performing manual differentials.
Operating equipment such as gamma counter, spectrophotometer, densitometer, and performing radioimmunoassay, enzyme immunoassay, and serological testing.
Performing technical procedures for identification or susceptibility of bacteria, parasites, fungi, and mycobacteria.
Using hospital-approved disinfectants for cleaning.
Drying glassware in a heating oven before storing.
Sterilizing bacteriology media and contaminated materials using an autoclave.
Preparing stains, solutions, and culture media following established formulas.
Using a simplified balance to weigh chemicals.
Plating all cultures (fungus, acid fast, routine) on submitted specimens.
Performing all routine stains (gram stains, Wright’s stains) on submitted specimens.
Managing inventory in the laboratory storeroom and reporting needed supplies.
Initiating responsibilities without prompting.
Submitting suggestions to improve laboratory efficiency.
Interacting with other Clinical Laboratory staff professionally.
Adhering to dress code.
Completing annual education requirements.
Maintaining regulatory requirements.
Maintaining patient confidentiality.
Reporting to work on time and as scheduled.
Wearing identification and using the time system correctly.
Completing in-services in a timely fashion.
Attending annual reviews and department in-services.
Attending staff meetings or reading and returning minutes.
Representing the organization positively and professionally.
Participating in performance improvement and CQI activities.
Complying with organizational policies regarding ethical business practices.
Communicating the mission, ethics, and goals of the facility and department.