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The position is located in the Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (PLMS) at the Portland VA Medical Center. The incumbent performs a variety of functions, including accession specimens into computer system; collects, evaluates and processes patient specimens; answers questions relative to specimens; instructs and assists patients; and sends out specimens for testing. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement, 04/28/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Candidates may be advanced without time restriction to positions up to GS-05 if the position to be filled is no more than two grades above the lowest grade the employee held within the preceding 52 weeks under his or her latest non-temporary competitive appointment. For this vacancy, employees under the GS pay system must have held a GS-03 or higher position in the last 52 weeks to be eligible for the GS-05 grade level. A 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: To be creditable, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade, GS-04, in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to technical medical laboratory support work such as performing laboratory tests and examinations (chemical, microbiologic, hematologic and blood banking) and preparing reports of findings or technical support work in a closely related field, e.g., biological laboratory technician work, that required application of the methods and techniques for the position to be filled. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completed a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree with courses related to the occupation (Transcript required). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have a combination of specialized experience and education beyond the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree (Transcript required). You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Customer Service (Clerical/Technical) Emergency Care Infection Control Specimen Collection Technical Competence Technology Application 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. 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 extensive periods of standing and walking, regular and recurring bending, moderate lifting, stooping and stretching. 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/. ["This is an open-continuous announcement. It establishes a standing register of eligible applicants which closes on April 28, 2023. Positions will be filled as they become available. There will be multiple cut-off dates used to consider applications for referral to the selecting official. The first cut-off date to consider applications for referral to the selecting official will be January 6, 2023, the remaining cut-off dates will be at 2-week intervals (January 20, 2023; February 3, 2023; February 17, 2023; March 3, 2023; March 10, 2023; March 24, 2023; April 7, 2023) with the final date for consideration being April 28, 2023. Major Duties include but are not limited to: Independently performing blood collection using a variety of phlebotomy techniques, including vacutainer systems, syringe, butterfly, and/or capillary finger sticks. Independently selecting the best venipuncture site, most suitable phlebotomy equipment, appropriate cleansing agent(s), and proper collection vials. Assessing the condition of patient before, during, and after procedure. Making on-the-spot decisions to make corrections or identify other means to obtain needed specimens when faced with patients with difficult anatomy for collection. Providing education to patients regarding proper collection techniques of urine, stool, or other fluids. Preparing samples for testing to include labeling, centrifugation, decanting and aliquoting, etc. Identifying unusual test results or conditions that can lead to erroneous results. Assessing sample integrity and suitability. Manifesting and shipping to reference labs Providing customer service for those utilizing the laboratory services; answering telephones and referring unanswered questions to the appropriate source for correct information/assistance. Work Schedule: Sunday - Saturday; Variable 8-hour tours with rotating weekends and holidays. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Medical Technician/PD21133A Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment Incentive may be offered to highly qualified, eligible applicants. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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