Clinical Lab Scientist - Las Vegas - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Description

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment.

Program Approval - award amount (up to $ & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application.

Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.

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
English Language Proficiency
Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C.
7403(f)
Education
A bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university

Certification:

NOTE:
The Supervisory CLS (Laboratory Director) - GS-1- requires unique education requirements
Please reference the education requirements located in that assignment below
Generalist certification as an MLS given by ASCP BOC or AMT
OR - Generalist certification as an MT given by ASCP BOR or AMT
OR - Categorical certification or Specialist certification by ASCP or AMT

United States Citizenship:
Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy


NOTE:
Categorical and specialist certifications are not acceptable for CLS Generalist positions or lab sections unrelated to the categorical or specialist certification held
Categorical or specialist certifications are acceptable for higher-graded positions within the relevant lab section or one of the non-section specific assignments (including - Ancillary Testing Coordinator - Education Coordinator - Laboratory Information Manager - Quality Manager - Laboratory Manager - Regional Technical Specialist - National Quality and Compliance Agent - Regional Program Manager - Regional Director - Laboratory Director - or National Quality and Compliance Officer)
Exception for non-certified
(a) Applicants who do not currently hold valid certification may be hired by VA and actively work toward their certification if they meet one of the routes identified in Appendix A that makes them eligible to take the MLS certification exam through the ASCP BOC or the MLS certification exam through AMT Certification Agency
(b) Non-Certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure may be given a temporary appointment CLS under the authority of 38 U.S.C.
7405(c)(2)
(c) Non-Certified individuals may only provide care under the supervision of a certified CLS at or above the FPL
(d) Non-certified individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained
(e) Temporary appointments of non-certified CLS may not be extended beyond 2 years or be converted to a new temporary appointment
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)

GRADE DETERMINATIONS
In addition to the basic requirements for employment - candidates must meet the following grade-determining criteria for placement at grade levels specified
Clinical Laboratory Scientist - GS-7 Experience
None beyond the basic requirements
(2) Assignment
Employees at this level serve in a CLS entry-level position
It is expected that they will receive guidance from more experienced staff members and require daily direct supervision
GS-09 Experience or Education
Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: 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 Experience or Education
Candidates at this level must meet one of the criteria below: Experience
1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level
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-7 to GS-11.Non-certified applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for certification may be given a temporary appointment not to exceed 2 years and may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained under the authority of 38 U.S.C.

7405(c)(2)
This appointment may not be extended

Physical Requirements:
In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019

This work requires some physical exertion such as prolonged periods of standing - bending - reaching - crouching - stooping - stretching - and lifting moderately heavy items such as manuals - record boxes - equipment or assisting patients.

Duties

The Clinical Laboratory Scientist carries out the day-to-day operation in the laboratory
Develops - performs - evaluates - interprets - correlates - and validates the accuracy of laboratory procedures and results in line with current laboratory regulatory requirements
The work is performed in a variety of laboratory specialties such as chemistry - microbiology - immunology - hematology and immunohematology
Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties may include but are limited to: Evaluates the suitability of the specimen for analysis - requesting new specimens - if determined to be unusable
Prepares specimens for analysis ensuring that the Physiological state of the specimen properties is maintained
Selects - performs - evaluates and monitors the performance of test procedures using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols
Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction
locates and implements corrections
Conducts quality control procedures on equipment - reagents - and products and maintains proper records for quality control reports
Calibrates - standardizes - adjusts and maintains instruments
Verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks and monitoring
Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs
Evaluates the validity of data in relation to the test system and accepted assay procedures
Correlates quantitative data with patient data (i.e. - history - medications) to verify results
Performs additional tests to clarify or confirm abnormal patient results
Recognizes abnormal results that require immediate attention by the physician and reports them directly
Responsible for the generation of laboratory results from the work area into the laboratory computer system and for the editing and verification of the results recorded into the computer system

Work Schedule:
Full-Time - Monday-Friday - Day shift (7-3:30-PM) - with rotating Holidays and Weekends Recruitment Incentive (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
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year 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 $ 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.

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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 Authorized Virtual:
This is not a virtual position

Functional Statement #:
F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized