Medical Laboratory Scientist Trainee/1, UWMC Midnights Team

University of Washington • Seattle, WA

20h • Onsite

About The Position

The UW Medicine - Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (DLMP) in Seattle, WA has a fantastic opportunity for a Medical Laboratory Scientist Trainee/1 with the Midnights Team at the University of Washington Medical Center - Montlake. This is a 100% FTE position with a night shift work schedule. The role involves performing technical quality of work, including analysis of blood, body fluids, cells, and blood products with accuracy and precision in various laboratory sections. The position requires following established procedures, completing routine tasks independently, and using job knowledge to make critical judgments regarding test results. It also involves investigating and solving problems related to specimen collection or handling, taking appropriate action on critical results, and communicating them to healthcare providers. The role also requires meeting test completion deadlines, coordinating multiple procedures, prioritizing workload, and working efficiently. Teamwork is essential, including showing initiative, cooperation, and communication to maintain workflow and patient care. Flexibility in adapting to new routines and work assignments is expected. The position involves sharing responsibility for emergency coverage, overtime, and call-back needs. Maintaining a neat, clean, and efficient work area, including cleaning benches and equipment and replenishing supplies, is also a responsibility. Quality Assurance Activities include performing and documenting quality control, analyzing QC data, instituting corrective actions, and verifying QC acceptability before reporting patient values. Maintenance protocols for instruments must be followed and documented. Instrumentation/Computer Skills involve understanding the principles of operation for various laboratory equipment, maintaining basic troubleshooting skills, and exhibiting working knowledge of the laboratory information system software. Teaching Skills are required for effectively training medical technology students, new employees, or others in laboratory testing procedures, including completing necessary paperwork and providing supervision. Communication/Customer Service involves representing the department professionally, demonstrating good communication and conflict resolution skills, and communicating appropriate information clearly, directly, and in a timely manner. Job Knowledge/Professional Growth requires maintaining competency and keeping job knowledge current through attending in-services and continuing education. Safe Working Habits include exercising knowledge of laboratory safety and proper precautions when dealing with hazardous materials, practicing Universal Precautions, and reporting hazards. Performing Related Duties as Assigned includes performing accurate analysis on proficiency testing materials, making and verifying quality of reagents, assisting in the development and/or evaluation of new procedures and instruments, and performing special projects. Sample preparation and processing for transport and/or testing may also be required.

Requirements

• Accredited bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science OR equivalent education/experience AND Eligible to take the Medical Laboratory Scientist or categorical certification examination from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) within 18 months from date of hire.
• Current Medical Laboratory Scientist certification with the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) or equivalent certifying organization OR certification with specialty organization appropriate to the laboratory division AND One (1) year of experience as a Medical Laboratory Scientist Trainee.
• Up to one (1) year of on-the-job experience performing clinical testing in a Medical Laboratory Science Program externship may count toward the experience requirement.

Responsibilities

• Perform analysis of blood, body fluids, cells and blood products with accuracy and precision in Chemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Microbiology, and Satellite laboratories.
• Follow current established procedures and guidelines for performing and documenting tests.
• Complete routine tasks without direct supervision.
• Work with attention to detail and with critical review to avoid errors.
• Use job knowledge to make critical judgments regarding the acceptability of test results.
• Investigate and solve problems involving specimen collection or handling; follow procedures for reporting and documenting to assure quality and timeliness of patient results.
• Take appropriate action on critical, abnormal or unusual results.
• Follow hospital procedures for communication of critical results to the appropriate health care provider.
• Complete patient and quality control procedures within defined time limits.
• Simultaneously coordinate multiple procedures with accuracy.
• Prioritize workload in response to STAT requests.
• Meet test completion deadlines through efficient workload organization.
• Use work time appropriately.
• Work as a team member - show initiative and cooperation to maintain workflow.
• Communicate between team members to facilitate optimal patient care.
• Maintain awareness of needs within the lab, such as heavy workload on benches or special projects to be completed and assist in the completion of those tasks.
• Display flexibility in adapting to new routines and modifications of work assignments and schedule.
• Share responsibility for emergency coverage, overtime and call-back needs of the laboratory.
• Maintain a neat, clean and efficient work area including cleaning benches and equipment and replenishing supplies.
• Maintain awareness of supply stock and inform lead technologist before supplies are depleted.
• Perform and document daily quality control.
• Analyze QC data and make judgments concerning results.
• Institute and document corrective action when QC results exceed tolerance limits.
• Verify acceptability of QC prior to reporting any patient values.
• Follow maintenance protocols for all instruments and document appropriately.
• Monitor QA indicators on instruments and institute corrective action as needed.
• Document other laboratory or specimen issues and problems appropriately.
• Understand principles of operation for a variety of laboratory equipment, including equipment requiring interpretative knowledge such as multi-parameter cell counters and automated coagulation analyzers.
• Maintain basic troubleshooting skills on all instruments.
• Appropriately document problems and notify lead technologist and/or request assistance for instrument issues.
• Exhibit working knowledge of laboratory information system software.
• Effectively teach and train medical technology students, new employees or others in theory and performance of laboratory testing.
• Complete necessary paperwork and training documents during daily interactions with trainees.
• Review training documents to ensure trainees make satisfactory progress towards completion of training requirements.
• Provide adequate supervision of trainees when assigned.
• Verify performance of trainee prior to allowing trainee to report results.
• Provide feedback on trainee's performance as required.
• Represent the department professionally when interacting with other members of the healthcare team, including other divisions of the laboratory.
• Demonstrate good communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Communicate clearly, directly and on a timely basis appropriate information to customers and co-workers, both orally and in writing.
• Maintain neat, legible and organized written work documents with appropriate dates and initials.
• Maintain competency and keep job knowledge current.
• Attend in services and continuing education opportunities as available.
• Exercise knowledge of laboratory safety and proper precautions when dealing with biohazardous, radioactive, corrosive, explosive and/or flammable materials.
• Always Practice “Universal Precautions”.
• Report hazards and unsafe practices to supervisor.
• Keep abreast of safety procedures including fire plan, disaster drills, evacuation routes, etc.
• Know location of safety information and supplies and be able to access in response to queries or emergency situations.
• Participate in laboratory disaster preparedness drills.
• Perform accurate analysis on CAP and other proficiency testing materials.
• Make and verify quality of reagents.
• Assist in development and/or evaluation of new procedures and instruments assigned.
• Perform special projects and related duties as assigned.
• May be required to prepare and process samples for transport and/or testing.

Benefits

• Relocation incentive for eligible new employees.
• Vacation time and sick time off that accrue monthly.
• 12 paid holidays.
• State Employee Tuition Exemption Program covering up to 6 credits of qualifying coursework per quarter at the University of Washington or other participating colleges or universities.
• Fully subsidized public transit pass (U-PASS) that covers multiple forms of public transportation in the region.
• Excellent healthcare, dental, disability, retirement, and other plan options.
• Free fitness, healthy eating, finance, and stress reduction classes offered through the Whole U.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level