Clarification from the agency

Current VA Agency employees working in a permanent competitive position; Current employees in the competitive service in a federal agency other than the VA; Current and former Federal employees who meet the established criteria in an OPM Interchange Agreement; Current/Former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; Individuals who are eligible under Veterans Employment Opportunity Act (VEOA); Individuals who are eligible under a noncompetitive hiring authority.

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Duties for this position include but are not limited to:

Specimen Collection: 50%

• Using proper patient identification and sample labeling the incumbent collects blood or urine specimens and ensures safe, non-traumatic processes are used to maintain patient safety and assure specimen quality.
• Performs blood collection using venipunctures, and capillary finger sticks with a minimal number of failures, patient bruising, or required repeat collection, ensuring that samples are submitted to the clinical laboratory with the least possible delay.
• Specimen collection is performed in hospital rooms, extended care rooms and out-patient specimen collection area.
• Specimen collection is performed under emergent situations such as cardiac arrest, stroke, critically ill or non­cooperative patients.
• Follows standard operating procedures for guidance in specimen collection.
• Identifies tests that require special handling conditions and appropriately performs proper specimen collection.
• Initiates emergency care procedures in the event a patient has a reaction to blood collection procedures including fainting, hematoma, and anxiety.
• Maintains an adequate supply of phlebotomy supplies, and reports shortages to logistics staff or the supervisor for resolution.
• Adheres to laboratory safety policies and regulatory requirements including infection control policies such as hand hygiene, specimen transport, and patient isolation.

Specimen Handling & Computer: 25%

• Operates the pneumatic tube system to transport specimens to the main laboratory.
• Properly packages specimens for manual transport between clinic lab and the main laboratory and delivers specimens to the appropriate section of the laboratory as assigned.
• Ensures that specimens are maintained at the proper temperature and conditions to ensure sample integrity (on ice, protected from light), as required by the test ordered.

Communication, Clerical, and Administrative Support: 25%

• Provides education to patients regarding the collection of blood samples and potential complications, collection of a routine urinalysis, 24-hour urine collection, and other collection requirements as needed.
• Assists patients with laboratory check-in, obtains required pre-analytical information from patients, and provide patient-entered care and excellent customer service to patients, visitors, and other members of the health care team.
• Communicates missing, erroneous, or duplicate orders to the appropriate health care staff for follow-up action.
• Answers clinic laboratory phone, addresses inquiries, and forwards call to main lab when appropriate.
• Trains and evaluates competency of new employees and students in specimen collection techniques, computer duties, and management of laboratory orders.
• Participates in continuing education activities and VA training opportunities.
• Assists with other miscellaneous and clerical duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, daytime hours, no weekend or holidays; specific shifts to be discussed during interview process.
Telework: Not Authorized
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician - Phlebotomist (Recruitment Incentive)/PD60843A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized for highly qualified candidates only.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

VA Whole Health Statement: The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this 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
• 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)

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/30/2025.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY: In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), No person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. You must be proficient in basic written and spoken English in order to meet the requirements of this position.

This position includes a Selective Placement Factor (skill, knowledge, ability or other worker characteristic basic to - and essential for - satisfactory performance of the job). Selective Placement Factors are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for a position. Applicants who do not meet it are ineligible for further consideration.

• The Selective Placement Factor for this position is: Experience performing phlebotomy/blood draws on human patients.

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

• Specialized Experience: You must have At least six (6) months of general experience, and six (6) months of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to successfully perform the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. General Experience is: (1) Any type of work that demonstrates the applicant's ability to perform the work of the position, or (2) experience that provided a familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the occupation. Specialized experience is: (a) Technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or (b) technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. OR,
• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successful completion of (a) an associate-degree course of study of which the 2nd year of the 2-year program included successful completion of a training course of approximately a year's duration in a certified laboratory assistant school approved by a nationally recognized accrediting agency; (b) 1 year of study that included 6 semester hours in chemistry and/or the biological sciences, plus successful completion of (a) a full-time training course of approximately a year's duration in a medical or clinical laboratory assistant (or technician) school that included instruction in chemistry, hematology, blood banking, and microbiology (including serology) and that, in addition, included supervised laboratory practice incident to the diagnostic process and the treatment of patients; or (c) 2 years of study that included at least 12 semester hours of chemistry and/or biological science course work that must have been directly related to the specialization of the position to be filled. OR,
• Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have an combination of specialized experience and education beyond high school education.

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Computer Skills
• Customer Service (Clerical/Technical)
• Patient Care
• Quality Assurance
• Specimen Collection

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: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

Physical Demands: The work requires manual dexterity and exceptional hand/eye coordination, some physical exertion, such as regular and recurring walking, reaching, bending, and to stand for several consecutive hours during the collection and of specimens. Work is performed at a fast pace. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Position requires occasional lifting of reagent/supply containers weighing up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment: The work involves regular and recurring moderate risks or discomforts which require special safety precautions. Employees are required to use protective clothing or gear such as masks, gowns, lab coats, respirators, gloves, or shields to moderate risks, or to follow procedures for minimizing risk. The technician is regularly exposed to biohazardous material encountered in a clinical laboratory. This includes daily exposure to potentially infectious patients or materials, and occasional exposure to hazardous materials. The technician is required to take special precaution as prescribed by the Laboratory Safety and Chemical Hygiene Manual. Adherence to safety and standard precautions and use of protective gear are mandatory to reduce occupational risk factors. There is frequent contact with patients with undiagnosed illnesses and the employee has the potential to be exposed to communicable disease. Employees are mandated to use appropriate personal protective equipment.

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/.

How you will be evaluated

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

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

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.