Cytotechnologist

Summary

This Cytotechnologist position is located in the VISN 12 Pathology & Laboratory Medical Service (P&LMS) at the Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs, located at 820 S Damen Ave. Chicago, IL 60612.

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Duties

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Major Duties:

• Operates, verifies and maintains correct instrument operation for all equipment in the cytology laboratory, using established procedures and quality control checks in accordance with College of American Pathologists, Joint Commission and VHA guidelines.
• Operates, maintains and troubleshoots instrumentation utilized while preparing specimens for diagnosis. Plans, implements and coordinates preventive maintenance of all instruments, communicating with the Biomedical Department any instrument malfunctions
• Reviews clinical data of patients and evaluates all cytology preparations by light microscopy for the presence or absence of cellular patterns, presence of microorganisms, inflammatory reactions, endocrinopathies, benign changes, pre-malignant changes, neoplasia, and cellular responses to therapeutic agents.
• Issues and verifies the final diagnosis for negative gynecologic specimens
• Has knowledge of processes and procedures to prepare all specimens for cytodiagnostic and immunochemistry testing, as well as preparation, fixation and staining of slides ?
• Prioritizes, prepares, and processes all specimens for cytodiagnostic and immunohistochemical testing in compliance with the guidelines of regulatory agencies.
• Instructs others on the proper collection methods and transportation of specimens and determines acceptability of patient samples for processing.
• Acts as a technical resource, troubleshoots a variety of specialized lab tests, identifies suboptimal issues and uses independent judgment and resources to resolve concerns
• Performs routine maintenance of equipment using standard operating procedures
• Develops new tests, including stain protocol research, test protocol setup, validation testing and recordkeeping and documentation.
• Selects and performs non-routine and specialized test procedures.
• Recognizes and reacts to indicators or malfunction.
• Evaluates new equipment and makes informed decisions concerning the purchasing of equipment.
• Prepares reagent and control materials.
• Conducts quality control procedures on equipment, reagents and products, and maintains proper records for quality control reports.
• Conveys pertinent information to those professionals of the Anatomic Pathology and Medical Center staff directly responsible for patient care in regard to proper collection methods, transportation of specimens, etc.
• Communicates effectively and courteously and provides excellent service as defined by the customer (healthcare providers, patients and others).
• Receives specimen and review accompanying requisitions for completeness and accuracy.
• Accessions specimens, determining adequacy and quality prior to recording the data in the computer.
• Processes and prepares all cytology specimens for diagnostic procedures while controlling physical conditions and responding to time factors to ensure that they physiological state of the specimen is maintained, which includes the use of centrifuges, cytocentrifuge, Thin Prep processor slide stainer, cell block methods, etc.
• Acknowledges technical limitations and various possibilities for procedural errors in cytopreparation.
• If errors are identified, takes corrective action.
• Assures proper storage and maintenance of cytology records including slides and patient reports.
• Provides training and competency assessment, including effective and professional training for the histopathology and cytopathology technologist(s), technician(s), pathologist assistants, autopsy assistants and other laboratory employees that support the services of the anatomic pathology department.
• Organizes, coordinates and prioritizes simultaneous work assignments, both individual and team related.
• Adheres to practices and regulations governing biosafety and biosecurity in the workplace.
• Incorporates principles of educational methodology in the instruction and training of new employees and students and in the laboratory's in-service/continuing education program.
• Maintains knowledge of and complies with the federal regulations associated with the Clinical Lab Improvement Act of 1988.
• Serves as a cytology subject matter expert providing authoritative advice and consultation for more markedly difficult, complex, unique, and/or emerging tests requiring specialized knowledge. Examples include, but are not limited to, molecular testing, pleural fluid analysis and flow cytometry.
• Identifies, defines and resolves issues associated with complex aspects of data or unique or controversial aspects of cytology testing where no direct precedent exists
• Others duties as assigned.

Work Schedule : Intermittent; Wednesday and Thursday; 8:00AM-4:30PM

Telework : Not Available.

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 09700F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Requirements

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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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• 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 ( 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

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

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: Individuals must have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university and successfully completed a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredited cytotechnology program.
• Certification: Candidates must currently possess either:
  • Cytotechnologist (CT) (ASCP) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification.
  • Specialist in Cytotechnology (SCT) (ASCP) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification

Grade Determinations :Must have at least one (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-9).

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs.

• Ability to independently determine specimen adequacy using complex specialized testing methods or techniques during Endoscopic Ultrasound, Endobronchial Ultrasound, and other Fine Needle Aspiration procedures.
• Knowledge of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes to establish and monitor the overall laboratory quality management and quality control program, and initiate corrective action as needed.
• Skill in collecting, compiling, and analyzing data for quality assurance, statistics, trends and reports, and implementing quality improvement initiatives.
• Skill in researching, testing, validating, and implementing new procedures and equipment.
• Ability to perform ultrathin microtomy and operate an electron microscope. Knowledge of microanatomy sufficient to note ultrastructural and microchemical findings.
• Ability to convey knowledge of safety regulations and guidelines such as CAP, JC, and OSHA, and to ensure staff compliance with safety requirements, including continuing education and employee orientation.
• Knowledge and skill to plan and administer an ongoing continuing education program for the laboratory to meet accreditation standards.
• Skill to maintain and troubleshoot computers and laboratory system instrumentation.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11.

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: 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:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.