Medical Technician - Phlebotomist

Veterans Health Administration • Tucson, AZ

7d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is within the Pathology and Laboratory Service Line at the Tucson VA Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. It is not virtual; the employee must live within or be willing to relocate within a commutable distance of the duty location. The role involves collecting and processing patient specimens, preparing requisitions, educating patients on collection techniques, and ensuring accurate patient identification and specimen labeling. The position also involves assessing patients around procedures, sterilizing contaminated materials, and identifying unusual test results or conditions that may cause erroneous results.

The work schedule is either Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or Sunday through Thursday, midnight to 8:00 a.m. Rotating weekends and holidays are included. Recruitment, relocation, and Critical Skills Incentives are not authorized. This is a designated drug-testing position. The selected employee must serve a one-year probationary period.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, proficient in basic written and spoken English, and meet the selective placement factor of performing blood draws on human patients. Qualification requires one year of relevant specialized experience, qualifying education, or a combination of experience and education. Applicants using education to qualify must submit transcripts. The position requires a background/security investigation and participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
• Meet the selective placement factor of performing blood draws on human patients.
• Have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-04 level in technical medical laboratory support or a closely related field; qualifying experience includes performing standardized tests and examinations, following detailed written procedures, and applying established methods and techniques.
• Alternatively, have completed a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with a major or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to the position, such as Medical Technician; submit a transcript.
• Alternatively, qualify through a combination of specialized experience and education; for GS-05, only education beyond the first 60 semester hours toward a bachelor's degree is creditable. Submit transcripts and clear details of experience as applicable.
• Provide detailed resume entries, including employment dates, duties, and/or total hours worked per week, when relying on experience.
• Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
• Submit to urinalysis drug screening if tentatively selected; refusing testing or receiving a verified positive result prevents appointment.
• Meet Selective Service registration requirements for males born after December 31, 1959.
• Pass a background/security investigation and complete online onboarding and pre-employment identification requirements.
• Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program for VA Health Care Personnel.
• Serve a one-year probationary period.
• Meet the physical demands of the role, including manual dexterity, exceptional hand/eye coordination, recurring walking and bending, prolonged concentration and standing, and lifting reagent containers up to 35 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Perform blood collection using vacutainer systems, syringes, butterfly needles, and/or capillary finger sticks.
• Process emergency and routine specimens in a timely manner.
• Prepare electronic requisitions for samples sent to reference laboratories.
• Educate patients on proper collection techniques for urine, stool, and other fluids.
• Identify patients and ensure proper sample procurement and specimen labeling.
• Assess patient condition before, during, and after procedures.
• Sterilize and autoclave contaminated material according to safety policies.
• Identify unusual test results or discrepancies and conditions that could lead to erroneous results.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive federal benefits package.
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service, subject to request and approval before appointment.

What This Job Offers

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