Health Technician - Phlebotomist & Laboratory Processing

Employee will serve as a Health Technician - Phlebotomist and Laboratory Processing within Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service located at the Veterans Healthcare System, Oklahoma City, OK.

***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION, YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION***

The primary purpose of this position is responsible for performing phlebotomy on human patients, as well as laboratory specimen processing work. Examples of the laboratory experience incudes: processing specimens using various lab equipment and preparing the proper packaging and shipping requirements. Duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Receives delivered specimens and accessions into the computer system, using both automated and manual methods/do.
• Accessions and properly handle specimens to prepare for testing and packaging and shipping to reference laboratories.
• Instructs/assists patients, physicians, and providers on specimen requirements.
• Ensures adequate usage of equipment, includes maintenance on laboratory machines, proficiency test and documentation of results.
• Prepares specimens to be sent to outside laboratories, including reference and sharing laboratories, for testing not done at this Medical Center.
• Evaluates specimen integrity, judging correctness of specimen type, quantity, age, and condition upon receipt.
• Troubleshoots specimen discrepancies according to specimen requirements.
• Reconciles physical specimens received against printed manifest document.
• Performs cleaning, disinfection, and organization of work areas, including restocking the lab areas.
• Provides clerical/administrative support for the service (e.g., maintain lab records; filing, scanning; label printing; etc.).
• Maintains adequate quota of sterile and non-sterile supplies, instruments, and equipment and checks for outdated supplies/items.
• Perform other duties, as necessary.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, 6:30am - 3:00pm, Rotating Holidays and Weekends

DESIGNATED DRUG-TESTING POSITION: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved

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.

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTOR (SCREEN-OUT): A Selective Placement Factor (SPF) has been identified for this position. Selective Placement Factors (SPF) are a prerequisite to appointment and represent minimum requirements for the position. Applicants who do not meet the SPF are ineligible for further consideration.

The SPF for this position is: \Requires experience performing phlebotomy on human patients, as well as laboratory specimen processing work. Examples of the laboratory experience incudes: processing specimens using various lab equipment and preparing the proper packaging and shipping requirements.

In addition to the above, applicant(s) must meet at least one of the following minimum qualification requirements.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Requires one full year of specialized experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5 in the Federal service. 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. Specialized experience includes accessioning, labeling, and aliquoting lab specimens; operating laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, refrigerators/freezers and using computer software programs/databased to provide administrative support for the lab (e.g., maintaining lab records; filing, scanning, label printing; etc.).~ OR~

SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Successfully complete Six months of Graduate education or an internship to meet the specialized experience required. Education is creditable only in those instances where it is directly related to the work of the position. ~OR~

COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate education and specialized experience are also qualifying.

Physical Requirements: The work requires much walking through the clinic, with occasional requirements to lift objects, computer work and operating office equipment. The positions require the ability to process written and electronic information. The work requires the ability to physically control or defend against emotionally distressed patients. The work requires above average agility and dexterity due to the fine skills of some of the point of care lab testing. The work may require heavy lifting of equipment or patients. The incumbent may be required to commute between two outpatient clinics within the workweek, depending on the clinic workload.

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/.

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

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/.

• 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
• 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 identification 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.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.