Clinical Lab Scientist

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. 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: A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university Foreign Education To be creditable - education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials Graduates of foreign baccalaureate degree programs meet the educational requirements if they meet either of the following: (1) Foreign transcripts are evaluated by an acceptable evaluation agency - and the degree is found to be equivalent to a NAACLS-approved U.S. clinical laboratory science degree program OR (2) The applicant submits a letter from ASCP BOC or AMT stating the individual is eligible to take the certification examination 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) Certification: Candidates must meet one of the certification options below (a) Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT (b) Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT (c) Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT NOTE: Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held Grade Determinations In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified GS-07 Clinical Laboratory Scientist: Experience: None beyond the basic requirements GS-09 Clinical Laboratory Scientist: Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade OR Education: Master's degree or 2 academic years of progressively higher-level graduate education in medical technology or a directly related science Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities.In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of policies and procedures of clinical laboratory testing Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance principles Knowledge of laboratory equipment and routine maintenance Ability to work as a team member and effectively complete assignments Ability to read and interpret written instructions Ability to accurately perform pre-analytical - analytical - and post-analytical phases of testing GS-11 Clinical Laboratory Scientist: Experience: 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade OR Education: Must have 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education or a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in medical technology or a directly related science Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles - practices - concepts - and theories that support sound - independent work Knowledge of laboratory quality control and quality assurance procedures and principles of performance improvement Skill in informatics - laboratory data flow - and laboratory processes Ability to maintain - troubleshoot - and repair instrumentation Ability to use independent technical judgment to analyze and interpret laboratory results Ability to read - interpret - and apply complex written instructions Ability to communicate - consult - and interact with other members of the health care team - external relations - customer service - and patient education Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11 The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-07 to GS-11 Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurrent standing to perform procedures and tests - walking between different areas within the laboratory and throughout the medical center The work involves sitting at a microscope or computer - manual dexterity - visual acuity - color vision and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time Requires intermittent moderate lifting (15-44 pounds) light carrying (under 15 pounds) use of fingers both hands required intermittent but possibly prolonged stooping and kneeling ability to read and comprehend ordinary type and computer screens ability to hear (aid permitted) and work in an environment with constant noise working closely with others high cognitive function required to work in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities without loss of accuracy emotional stability required to maintain self-control in difficult and stressful situation Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties and tasks include - but are not limited to the following: Maintains and demonstrates knowledge of professional clinical laboratory science principles - practices - concepts - and theories that support sound - independent work Utilizes comprehensive knowledge of laboratory equipment and maintains - troubleshoots - and repairs instrumentation and demonstrates proper documentation of corrective action Evaluates the suitability of each specimen for analysis - requesting a new specimen if determined to be unusable Prepares specimen for analysis according to established procedures Follows established procedure for handling of mislabeled - unlabeled - or unsuitable specimens Selects - performs - evaluates - and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or automated techniques in accordance with established protocols Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction locates and implements corrective action Performs initial testing on all reagents received in chemistry - blood bank - coagulation - and hematology before reagents are put into use This includes lot-to-lot testing and/or parallel testing that is then presented to the supervisor or laboratory director to review/approve before reagents or supplies are put into use Calibrates - standardizes - adjusts - and maintains instruments This includes verifying correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs Ensures maintenance - calibrations - and quality control are completed as scheduled and within the required timeframes Reviews and investigates delta checks - flags - alerts - etc and performs additional testing to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly and follows the proper laboratory and medical center policies Performs checks to maintain compliance with regulatory bodies such as AABB - FDA - The Joint Commission (TJC) - College of American Pathologists (CAP) - and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) such as temperature checks - inventory control - blood utilization tracking - instrument maintenance and testing Maintains accountability for inventory and ordering of all supplies - including blood products and reagents for all shifts and inventory of expendable supplies Logs and stores reagents and supplies per standard operating procedures and maintains optimal inventory levels of reagents - supplies - and blood products to prevent workflow interruptions Work Schedule: 11:00pm - 7:00am w/rotating weekends/holidays Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive Contact the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Learn more 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience 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 Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 93084-0 - 93085-0 - 93086-0 - Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr