Lab Assistant, PRN

Johnson Regional Medical Center•Clarksville, AR

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Laboratory Assistant cleans, disinfects, and sterilizes equipment, media, and work areas in the Clinical Laboratory; maintains laboratory inventory; and performs specimen plating and staining under laboratory supervision. The role also supports phlebotomy, laboratory testing, equipment operation and maintenance, clerical work, and performance-improvement activities while following laboratory and hospital policies and safety procedures. The position requires professional, courteous interaction with patients and staff, accurate patient identification and specimen documentation, and timely prioritization of STAT, ASAP, scheduled, and outpatient orders. The assistant supports a safe, quality-focused environment, maintains patient confidentiality, and participates in required education, meetings, and continuous quality improvement activities.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.
Basic computer knowledge.
Ability to perform the listed physical duties, including continuous standing and walking, lifting and carrying up to 30 pounds, and occasional pushing or pulling up to 40 pounds.
Certification as a medical technician is preferred.
Additional languages are preferred.

Nice To Haves

Certification as a medical technician.
Ability to communicate in additional languages.

Responsibilities

Clean, disinfect, and sterilize laboratory equipment, media, glassware, and work areas using approved disinfectants and equipment such as an autoclave and heating oven.
Maintain laboratory inventory, report supply needs, order supplies when needed, and keep venipuncture trays and work areas clean and stocked.
Perform phlebotomy competently, verify patient identity before venipuncture, record requisitions, and label and document specimens and procedures.
Perform routine and STAT laboratory assays, qualitative urine analyses, routine stains, and culture plating, including routine, fungal, and acid-fast cultures.
Assist laboratory technicians and perform clerical work as needed.
Operate, maintain, and calibrate laboratory instruments and equipment; run standards and controls, perform routine maintenance and troubleshooting, and follow quality-control protocols.
Perform testing and procedures involving toxicology, chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, coagulation, immunoassay, serology, and identification or susceptibility of microorganisms, as assigned.
Prepare stains, solutions, and culture media from chemicals following established formulas and weigh chemicals using a simplified balance.
Recognize abnormal and panic-value results and notify a Medical Technologist and/or Pathologist.
Prioritize orders and complete assigned duties efficiently, seeking guidance when necessary.
Follow Standard Precautions and hospital and Clinical Laboratory policies; dispose of sharps safely and support patient safety and quality.
Participate in performance improvement and continuous quality improvement activities, and submit suggestions to improve laboratory efficiency.
Maintain professional conduct, patient confidentiality, regulatory compliance, required education, and attendance at scheduled reviews, in-services, and staff meetings.