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Health Technician (Outpatient Lab) - Direct Hire Authority

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Primary Purpose of the Position: The Health care Technician is responsible for the collection and processing of specimens from patients admitted to the Unit.

The Organizational Location of the Position: The Health Care Technician works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse and is directly accountable to the Nurse Manager of the Unit. The Position is located in VA North Texas Health Care System, Nursing Service, Patient Care Section, Plano, TX.

Overview

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Reviewing applications
Open & closing dates
04/04/2025 to 04/09/2025
Salary
$48,877 to - $63,537 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 6
Locations
2 vacancies in the following locations:
Dallas, TX
Garland, TX
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
None
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
CAZM-12720014-25-ARR
Control number
834755300

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

ALL US CITIZENS DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

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Duties

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DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY: This position is being filled using Direct-Hire Authority (5 CFR 337.205) for this occupation.

Duties include but not limited to
:

  • Collection of laboratory specimens (blood, urine, and stool). Processing of specimens by centrifuge to separate plasma and serum. Separation of specimens into correct tubes for transportation to various labs. Performs D- Sticks for Metabolic studies.
  • Obtains timely and appropriate blood samples as ordered per unit policies and procedures. Recognize abnormal lab values and reports to Charge Nurse and Physician.
  • Exercises sound judgment to identify patient care needs, implement treatment protocols and collect pertinent data.
  • Directs and supports patients in the implementation of unit protocols, treatment goals and provides input into the treatment and discharge plan. Instructs patients on their role in various procedures and metabolic protocols covering information previously discussed with the patient by the Physician or RN.
  • Reviews current treatment plan, CPRS records on assigned patients prior to initiation of any procedures or protocols, to ensure quality care.
  • Documents in the clinical record the patient's progress toward protocols, medical treatment needs and interventions; discharge planning and referral data.
Other duties may include:
  • Obtain venous blood samples by aseptic venipuncture technique from patients in the Outpatient Clinic
  • Proficiently collects blood samples with a minimal number of failures, patient bruising, or required resticks.
  • Verifies patient information and tests ordered in the computer system.
  • Specimens must be properly labeled and initiated, following specimen procurement policies and procedures.
  • Performs a range of support duties to include obtaining specimens, including, but not limited to, blood (phlebotomy), urine, feces, nasopharyngeal swabs, fecal occult blood specimens (FOBT kit).
  • Performs the processing of all clinical laboratory specimens and is responsible for the timely and proper distribution of specimens to the reference laboratories to include centrifuges, decants, and aliquots specimens as appropriate.
  • Responsible for proper disposition of laboratory waste in the laboratory.
  • Packages supplies and specimens for pick up or shipment, following established packaging requirements.
  • Obtains and documents patients' vital signs, 12 Lead ECGs and reports abnormal findings to PACT team members.
  • Moves, lifts, transfers, and transports patients as necessary.
  • Knowledge of pain scale monitoring
  • Incumbent is also responsible for monitoring technical equipment and performing maintenance and quality assurance on instrumentation.
  • Incumbent also monitors lab environment: such as temperatures, freezers, refrigerators and incubators to ensure that they are working as expected.
  • Incumbent has a general knowledge of Laboratory accreditation requirements that are recommended by CAP, FDA and Joint Commission.
  • Performs ancillary testing such as CLIA waived testing and operates instrumentation necessary for testing.
  • Completes eyewash station testing.
  • Performs urine pregnancy testing to include controls.
  • Perform quality control (QC) on glucose testing machine.
  • The incumbent must possess the ability to work with all levels of healthcare system personnel and willing to assist the healthcare system staff with a variety of laboratory policies and procedures.
  • The incumbent will have contact with veteran patients, family members, all levels of NTX staff including physicians, nurses, technicians, etc. The employee must be able to effectively interact with personnel at all levels of the facility and foster harmonious working relationships, and is expected to maintain an attitude of professionalism, courtesy, cooperation, and respect towards all contacts.
  • Patient/family teaching
  • Basic computer knowledge
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 4:00pm or 8:00am to 4:30pm. May be required to work other shifts, be on call, work weekends and/or holidays as patient care and needs of the service require. Should operational needs dictate, candidates must be willing to work within other units (including community based outpatient clinics, for example) to assist and support continuation of the provision of care/services.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Health Technician (Outpatient Lab) - Direct Hire Authority/PD05022A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
  • To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job.
  • All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required.
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • Subject to background/security investigation.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/09/2025.

Health Technician requires the Individual Occupational Requirements be met

Individual Occupational Requirement
:

Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists, speech pathologists, medical officers, and optometrists. Therefore, technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge, methods, and techniques of the position to be filled.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below:

In addition to the individual occupation requirements listed above, you must also have:

  • Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Initiates patient care such as collection of laboratory specimens (blood, urine, and stool); documents in clinical record; promotes infection prevention control such as hand washing, wiping down exam tables or equipment in between patients; provides emergency care such as but not limited to: vital signs, patient condition, pain level and recognizes abnormal findings and reports to Charge Nurse.
Preferred Experience:
  • Minimum 6 months full-time phlebotomy experience
  • Minimum 6 months in processing lab specimens.
  • Minimum 6 months in Knowledge of basic medical equipment (centrifuge, temp monitoring).
  • Minimum 6 months in Preferred phlebotomy certification ASCP (American Society of Clinical Pathology) or NCHA (National College of Healthcare Assessment)
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work on the Unit requires some physical exertion. The Technician must be able to transport patients by wheelchair or stretcher, patients who require observation or monitoring. The duties require extensive periods of standing, walking, bending, lifting, 4/2/2025 15:47 EDT Page 4 of 6 pushing, and pulling. It involves positioning patients and transferring patients to wheelchairs, chairs, and stretchers. The Technician must demonstrate some agility and dexterity to perform phlebotomy, IV therapy, laboratory procedures, and EKGs. The Technician must be able to work 8-12 hour shifts. Technicians must have the ability to function in stressful situations.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Additional information

"Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act."

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.

The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following Competencies for this position:


Your experience must be fully documented on your resume and must include job title, duties, month and year start/end dates AND hours worked per week. A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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