Medical Technician - Phlebotomist

Veterans Health Administration•Little Rock, AR

7d•Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as a medical technician in a clinical laboratory, performing phlebotomy, specimen processing, waived testing, employee drug screens, and other duties to support patient care. The technician collects and processes blood and other specimens, performs laboratory support functions, and uses Vista and CPRS to manage orders, laboratory data, and specimen tracking. The role includes patient communication and providing compassionate, age-appropriate care to young adult, adult, and geriatric patients. The position is not virtual. The work schedule is Monday to Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with rotating holidays. The schedule may change based on facility needs. The position is subject to a one-year probationary period or two-year trial period. Relocation and recruitment incentives are not authorized; a Critical Skills Incentive is not approved, and permanent change of station is not authorized.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Complete the application, questionnaire, and required online assessment.
Applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position must undergo urinalysis for illegal drug use; refusal results in denial of employment.
Selective Service registration is required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Pass a background/security investigation and complete the online onboarding process and applicable pre-employment requirements.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program as a condition of employment for VA Health Care Personnel.
Meet the individual occupational requirement through qualifying technical medical laboratory support experience or specified education and training.
In addition to the individual occupational requirement, have six months of specialized experience and six months of general experience, meet the stated educational requirements, or qualify through a combination of experience and education.
Specialized experience includes venipuncture and capillary blood collection across age groups in inpatient and outpatient settings; proper patient identification; aseptic collection of blood and body-fluid specimens; universal precautions and PPE; specialized specimen collections; experience with laboratory tests and disciplines; and use of computer programs supporting clinical laboratory work.
Alternatively, qualify through two years of above-high-school education with courses related to the occupation, or a qualifying combination of education and experience. Transcripts are required when qualifying based on education.
Provide transcripts when education is used to meet qualification requirements; education must be from an appropriately accredited institution. Foreign education requires a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with transcripts.
Meet the physical demands of regular standing and walking, and reaching and bending to obtain specimens and operate instruments; occasional lifting of heavy reagent and supply containers may occur. Reasonable accommodation or workplace adjustment may be available.

Responsibilities

Perform phlebotomy procedures, including blood and body-fluid collection, using proper patient identification and labeling protocols.
Apply knowledge of laboratory disciplines including chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, microbiology, and coagulation.
Conduct specialized collections such as glucose tolerance tests, blood cultures, and urine collections in compliance with regulatory standards.
Process, label, and prepare specimens for testing and shipment according to laboratory protocols.
Maintain specimen integrity through appropriate handling, storage, temperature control, and packaging.
Review and resolve discrepancies to prevent erroneous results and maintain compliance with quality standards.
Use Vista and CPRS to enter, review, and manage patient orders, laboratory data, and specimen tracking.
Generate reports, print appointment lists, and verify orders for accuracy and completeness before collection.
Protect data integrity and confidentiality in accordance with Privacy Act regulations and secure system-access procedures.
Explain procedures to patients, answer questions, and support their understanding and cooperation.
Monitor patients during and after specimen collection for adverse reactions and respond appropriately, including initiating emergency protocols when needed.
Provide age-appropriate, compassionate care to young adult, adult, and geriatric patients, maintaining comfort, safety, and dignity.