Career Center

Summary

The Durham VA in Durham - NC is recruiting for a full-time Medical Laboratory Technician. Medical Laboratory Technicians perform - evaluate - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory results.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Education: Candidates must meet the applicable educational requirements for certification
• Certification: Candidates must currently possess one of the appropriate certifications as an MLT granted by the following organizations
• (a) American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) i ASCP - Board of Certification
• OR ii ASCP - Board of Registry
• (b) American Medical Technologists
• OR (c) American Association of Bioanalysts
• Medical Laboratory Technician - GS-06
• (a) Experience
• In addition to the basic requirements - candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-05 grade level
• (b) Knowledge - Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: i Knowledge of MLT principles - practices - concepts and theories for sound independent work
• ii Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures to manage reagents and supply inventories using document control systems
• iii Ability to maintain - troubleshoot and repair instrumentation
• iv Ability to work as a team member in a laboratory setting to effectively complete assignments
• v Ability to use technical judgment to interpret laboratory results
• vi Ability to apply complex written laboratory instructions
• vii Ability to consult with other members of the health care team - patients and external customers
• May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires mostly periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/residents who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on stakeholder needs.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:00AM - 3:30PM
• or 6:00AM - 2:30PM rotating weekends and holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Duties: An MLT at this level performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory results
• Testing procedures are performed on a variety of biological specimens and/or environmental samples using manual or automated techniques and require an exercise of independent judgment and responsibility with technical supervision
• The work performed is in a variety of laboratory disciplines - such as phlebotomy - chemistry - molecular biology - coagulation - hematology - immunohematology (blood banking) - serology - urinalysis - microbiology and ancillary testing
• Such positions include requirements to monitor quality control systems and measures
• collaborate in the diagnosis and treatment of patients
• and assist in education for laboratory professionals
• The medical laboratory technician rotates with other medical laboratory technicians and generalists on a regular basis through the above-mentioned areas
• He/She also works off-hour shifts - weekends - and holidays as priorities demonstrate a need
• The duties and responsibilities of the Medical Laboratory Technician include but are not limited to the following: Perform the full range of duties in the laboratory - from sample collection to evaluating and communicating test results
• MLTs perform day-to-day operations in the laboratory with minimal technical supervision while ensuring testing accuracy and quality of proper patient care
• Perform day-to-day operations in the laboratory with minimal technical supervision while ensuring testing accuracy and quality of proper patient care
• Processing techniques such as centrifugation - aliquoting - storage and packaging (considering stability factors) - and they accurately label and sort patient specimens
• Operate and maintains all instrumentation in assigned areas to deliver precise - timely and accurate laboratory results when analyzing body fluids such as blood - urine and tissue samples
• Analyze laboratory findings and issue necessary reports
• Communicates results and findings of laboratory tests and procedures with supervisors - pathologists and other medical professionals as needed
• Coordinates with all other clinical departments - to include medicine - surgery - dialysis - dermatology - to complete order entry and accessioning of test orders in the computer - correcting duplications or entry errors
• Performs phlebotomy using appropriate and established venipuncture techniques and universal precautions - being careful to avoid areas close to nerve bundles and arteries
• Performs and documents quality control and assurance activities and corrective actions related to test performance using statistical principles and theories of performance improvement with immediate or general supervision
• Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace with immediate or general supervision
• Assists in the instruction and training of new employees and students and in the laboratory's in-service/continuing education program.