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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Phlebotomy Duties:

• The incumbent properly identified patients utilizing the full name and social security number before collecting, processing and /or hospital computer entry of requests.
• Compares orders from multiple physicians and request the medical technologist to combine the orders.
• Properly identifies, labels and collection blood bank specimens for STAT and routine testing while next to the patient bedside or chair side.
• Must be proficient in phlebotomizing patient in varying debilitation (i.e., paralysis, stroke, mentally unstable, spinal cord injuries in fetal position and contractures).
• Performs phlebotomy using specialized techniques for cleansing the blood collection site to prevent bacterial contamination that's critical to patient care, to ensure the contamination rate of blood cultures remains with in guidelines with blood culture contamination.
• Draws the blood tests ordered by providers for inpatients, outpatients, CBOC patients and for requested drug screens.
• Applies knowledge of human anatomy, aseptic and sterile techniques and phlebotomy equipment in selection of the phlebotomy site, taking into consideration the condition of the patient, age group, and the type of test requested.

• This position reports directly to the Supervisory Health Technician and/or designee and is responsible for providing guidance and oversight of the section(s) specified as directed by the Supervisor.
• This includes participating in interviews, recommending appointment, and evaluating work performance.
• Collaborates with the Supervisor in completing the laboratory schedule and adjusts staffing levels or work procedures.
• Ensures that all employees are aware of and abide by the appropriate hospital and laboratory safety regulations as provided by the Supervisor.
• Responsible for maintaining the work area in a clean environment appropriate for the section.
• Leads the clinical training experiences of technical and professional level phlebotomy training programs to fulfill education and professional requirements as directed by the Supervisor.
• Ensures staff members complete the current mandatory hours of continuing education. Trains lower grade phlebotomy health technicians in the use of new procedures and instrumentation.

• Responsible for receiving and preparing requests for testing and specimens into the clinical laboratory and evaluates the acceptability of each specimen, documents discrepancies, and resolves potential problems.
• Screens telephone calls and routes inquiries to appropriate personnel.
• Ensures proper processing and accession of specimens; especially those requiring special handling, and clearly communicates requirements to the laboratory staff.
• Contacts Medical Center staff for additional information to ensure that proper testing and interpretive data are received.
• Sorts specimens based on testing location, needs, and priority for turnaround time.

• Performs CLIA-waived Fecal Occult Blood and other CLIA-waived rapid testing on patients while recording, reagent lot numbers, quality control, and reports and verifies test results.
• Maintains accurate rejection records. Prints incompletes report in VISTA and resolves any discrepancies.
• Point of Care Testing. Duties include collecting the specimen, receiving, labeling, and loading specimens, loading reagents on the instrument, recording reagent lot numbers, performing, and recording daily and weekly maintenance, quality controls, and performing patient testing.

• Serves as the point of contact (POC) between Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the clinics for specimen tracking.
• Reviews the shipping manifests from each clinic on the following business day to confirm each specimen listed on the shipping manifest was received and testing was completed.
• Pack and unpack CBOC supplies, complete temperature, safety and eyewash records.
• Report and document discrepancies to the Supervisor.

• Coordinates with Human Resources (HR) and Employee Occupational Health (EOH) to schedule pre-employment and random drug screens collections.
• Performs drug screens by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) split specimen collection method and follows all regulatory and legal requirements in maintaining the chain of custody of each specimen.
• Checks that all urine specimens are properly prepared, conducts temperature testing and attaches labels.
• All other duties as assigned.

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
• 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)

• 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.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 05/18/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

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

• 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: Knowledge of phlebotomy/specimen collection, and accessioning and processing; and using specialized techniques for cleansing the blood collection site to prevent bacterial contamination that's critical to patient care, to ensure the contamination rate of blood cultures remains with in guidelines with blood culture contamination. Establishes proper identity of all patients, ensures accountability of specimens by proper and complete labeling with patient's name and identification and initials all tubes drawn. Possesses proficiency in phlebotomy, being able to draw all but the most difficult patients and follows proper procedures for redrawing blood. Must complete the urine drug screen and blood draw quickly to produce quality specimens. Administers first aid, if necessary, to counteract unfavorable patient reactions. Provides care based on physical, psychosocial, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the patients served. Compares orders from multiple physicians and request the medical technologist to combine the orders. The incumbent properly identifies, labels and collection blood bank specimens for STAT and routine testing while next to the patient bedside or chair side. Must be proficient in phlebotomizing patient in varying debilitation (i.e., paralysis, stroke, mentally unstable, spinal cord injuries in fetal position and contractures). The incumbent performs phlebotomy using specialized techniques for cleansing the blood collection site to prevent bacterial contamination that's critical to patient care, to ensure the contamination rate of blood cultures remains with in guidelines with blood culture contamination. The incumbent draws the blood tests ordered by providers for inpatients, outpatients, CBOC patients and for requested drug screens. When required, the incumbent draws blood from patients for requested laboratory test.

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

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:

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