Clarification from the agency

This job is open to all current and permanent employees at the Lexington VA Healthcare System and CBOCs aligned under Duty Station #596. (Duty Station information can be found in block 40 on your most recent SF-50 and to be eligible for this vacancy the first 3 alpha-numeric characters in block 40 must read 596.)

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Duties include, but not limited to:

• Interprets requests or instructions for medical or heath care personnel.
• Employee understands ,and carries out the requests made by the health care professional.
• Performs direct patient support work to include collecting information from patients and providing personal patient care.
• Performs a range of diagnostic laboratory support duties such as collection and labeling of specimens for the laboratory.
• Performs routine repetitive diagnostic tests and procedures such as venipuncture for collection of blood specimens and collection/acceptance of other body fluids such as urine or sputum.
• Uses proper sterile techniques for collection of samples.
• Centrifuges blood specimens in the Leestown Outpatient Phlebotomy Sections.
• Ensures and verifies correct labeling and patient identification.
• Records collection times and intervals as appropriate processes and assures proper storage of specimens.
• Adheres to safety, infection control, and universal precautions at all times while drawing blood or performing tests.
• Assists in the training of new employees on specimen collection procedures and proper labeling of specimens.
• Uses hospital computer system to perform routine work such as, reviewing and accepting lab orders, entering test results and gathering information required to complete assigned duties.
• Performs routine or repetitive work in a laboratory setting.
• Notifies physician of any problem with orders or specimens.
• Informs personnel outside the laboratory which includes physicians, nurses, medical students and patients of the appropriate specimen, specimen collection procedure, and requirements for analysis.
• Performs quality assurance monitoring of specimens sent to the laboratory for analysis.
• Maintains supplies for the phlebotomy/accessioning area, including frequent checks for outdated/expired supplies.
• Secures the .confidence and cooperation of patients during procedures.
• Performs blood-drawing duties in a courteous, calm manner, so patient is as comfortable as possible.
• Performs direct patient support work to include collecting information from patients, providing personal patient care and educating patients on pre-testing and post-testing activities.
• Assists patients, visitors and others requesting information, guidance or referral for special assistance.
• Performs administrative tasks including records for specimens obtained, documenting measurements taken to obtain specimens, functions as a resource person for other non-laboratory personnel on specimen collection requirements and patient preparation for any lab request.
• Verifies the accuracy and completeness of requests, interacts with hospital/clinic personnel to correct discrepancies.
• Recognizes emergent situations and takes necessary action to prioritize emergent orders.
• Notifies technologists of impending work.
• Receives samples into the laboratory and processes them for testing, labels and transports specimens to appropriate station for testing.
• Maintains the blood drawing area.
• Performs any other duties which are in the best interested of patient care and deemed necessary by the supervisor.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm or 8am-4:30pm
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician (Phlebotomist)/PD600103
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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
• 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)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial 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 period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. 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.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

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-5 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 basic anatomy sufficient to assure accurate and appropriate phlebotomy procedures including the knowledge required to implement and monitor phlebotomy guidelines and policies.
  • Knowledge of laboratory test requests and medical terminology sufficient to ensure appropriate specimen tube selection and proper blood procurement.
  • Knowledge and skill sufficient to process specimens for routine laboratory test procedures in various sections of the laboratory including Chemistry, Blood Bank/Hematology and Microbiology.
  • Knowledge and skill sufficient tp operate laboratory centrifuges and patients' glucose monitors.
  • Knowledge of basic clerical procedures to assist with laboratory record keeping and processing of reports.
  • Knowledge and understanding of regulatory agencies requirements: College of American Pathologists and the Joint Commission.

OR,

• Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree with major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects appropriate to 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 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation..

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.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: One year of Phlebotomy 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 requires standing, walking, bending, lifting and carrying of light items. The work requires average agility and dexterity. The work involves regular and recurring risks or discomforts associated with working in a clinical laboratory which require special safety techniques and universal precautions, e.g., working around moving parts, carts, or machines; with contagious diseases or irritant chemicals. Employees are required to use protective clothing. Work area must be maintained in a clean and organized fashion.

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.