Direct Jobs
Health Technician (Outpatient Lab) - Direct Hire Authority
Direct Jobs, Dallas, Texas, United States, 75215
Summary
The Primary Purpose of the Position: The Health care Technician is responsible for the collection and processing of specimens from patients admitted to the Unit. The Organizational Location of the Position: The Health Care Technician works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse and is directly accountable to the Nurse Manager of the Unit. The position is located at Polk Street VA Clinic part of North Texas Veterans Health Care System - Nursing Service - Patient Care Section - Dallas - Texas.
Qualifications To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 12/19/2025. Health Technician requires the Individual Occupational Requirements be met. Individual Occupational Requirement: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists - speech pathologists - medical officers - and optometrists. Therefore - technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: In addition to the individual occupation requirements listed above - you must also have: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Initiates patient care such as collection of laboratory specimens (blood - urine - and stool); documents in clinical record; promotes infection prevention control such as hand washing - wiping down exam tables or equipment in between patients; provides emergency care such as but not limited to: vital signs - patient condition - pain level and recognizes abnormal findings and reports to Charge Nurse. Competencies: Accountability Diagnostic Medical Testing Emergency Care Infection Control Specimen Collection 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. 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/.
Duties
Collection of laboratory specimens (blood - urine - and stool)
Processing of specimens by centrifuge to separate plasma and serum
Separation of specimens into correct tubes for transportation to various labs
Performs D- Sticks for Metabolic studies
Obtains timely and appropriate blood samples as ordered per unit policies and procedures
Recognize abnormal lab values and reports to Charge Nurse and Physician
Exercises sound judgment to identify patient care needs - implement treatment protocols and collect pertinent data
Directs and supports patients in the implementation of unit protocols - treatment goals and provides input into the treatment and discharge plan
Instructs patients on their role in various procedures and metabolic protocols covering information previously discussed with the patient by the Physician or RN
Reviews current treatment plan - CPRS records on assigned patients prior to initiation of any procedures or protocols - to ensure quality care
Documents in clinical record the patient's progress toward protocols - medical treatment needs and interventions
discharge planning and referral data
Other duties may include: Obtain venous blood samples by aseptic venipuncture technique from patients in the Outpatient Clinic
Proficiently collects blood samples with a minimal number of failures - patient bruising - or required resticks
Verifies patient information and tests ordered in the computer system
Specimens must be properly labeled and initiated - following specimen procurement policies and procedures
Performs a range of support duties to include obtaining specimens - including - but not limited to - blood (phlebotomy) - urine - feces - nasopharyngeal swabs - fecal occult blood specimens (FOBT kit)
Performs the processing of all clinical laboratory specimens and is responsible for the timely and proper distribution of specimens to the reference laboratories to include centrifuges - decants - and aliquots specimens as appropriate
Responsible for proper disposition of laboratory waste in the laboratory
Obtains and documents patients' vital signs - 12 Lead ECGs and reports abnormal findings to PACT team members
Moves - lifts - transfers - and transports patients as necessary - knowledge of pain scale monitoring
Incumbent also monitors lab environment: such as temperatures - freezers - refrigerators and incubators to ensure that they are working as expected
Incumbent has a general knowledge of Laboratory accreditation requirements that are recommended by CAP - FDA and Joint Commission
Performs ancillary testing such as CLIA waived testing and operates instrumentation necessary for testing
Completes eyewash station testing
Performs urine pregnancy testing to include controls
Perform quality control (QC) on glucose testing machine
The incumbent must possess the ability to work with all levels of healthcare system personnel and willing to assist the healthcare system staff with a variety of laboratory policies and procedures
The incumbent will have contact with veteran patients - family members - all levels of NTX staff including physicians - nurses - technicians - etc
and be able to effectively interact with personnel at all levels of the facility and is expected to maintain an attitude of professionalism and respect towards all
Patient/family teaching - electronic documentation - and basic computer knowledge
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00am to 3:30pm
May be required to work other shifts - be on call - work weekends and/or holidays as patient care and needs of the service require
Should operational needs dictate - candidates must be willing to work within other units (including community based outpatient clinics - for example) to assist and support continuation of the provision of care/services
Work Location: Polk VA Clinic - 4243 South Polk Street - Dallas - TX 75224-4928 Position Description/PD#:Health Technician (Outpatient Lab) - Direct Hire Authority/PD07908A Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Requirements: The work on the Unit requires some physical exertion
The Technician must be able to transport patients by wheelchair or stretcher - patients who require observation or monitoring
The duties require extensive periods of standing - walking - bending - lifting - pushing - and pulling
It involves positioning patients and transferring patients to wheelchairs - chairs - and stretchers
The Technician must demonstrate some agility and dexterity to perform phlebotomy - IV therapy - laboratory procedures - and EKGs
The Technician must be able to work 8-12 hour shifts
Technicians must have the ability to function in stressful situations.
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Qualifications To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement - 12/19/2025. Health Technician requires the Individual Occupational Requirements be met. Individual Occupational Requirement: Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Positions in this series range widely in type and include support duties to medical or health personnel such as audiologists - speech pathologists - medical officers - and optometrists. Therefore - technician experience is experience that required application of the knowledge - methods - and techniques of the position to be filled. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: In addition to the individual occupation requirements listed above - you must also have: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-05 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include - but are not limited to: Initiates patient care such as collection of laboratory specimens (blood - urine - and stool); documents in clinical record; promotes infection prevention control such as hand washing - wiping down exam tables or equipment in between patients; provides emergency care such as but not limited to: vital signs - patient condition - pain level and recognizes abnormal findings and reports to Charge Nurse. Competencies: Accountability Diagnostic Medical Testing Emergency Care Infection Control Specimen Collection 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. 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/.
Duties
Collection of laboratory specimens (blood - urine - and stool)
Processing of specimens by centrifuge to separate plasma and serum
Separation of specimens into correct tubes for transportation to various labs
Performs D- Sticks for Metabolic studies
Obtains timely and appropriate blood samples as ordered per unit policies and procedures
Recognize abnormal lab values and reports to Charge Nurse and Physician
Exercises sound judgment to identify patient care needs - implement treatment protocols and collect pertinent data
Directs and supports patients in the implementation of unit protocols - treatment goals and provides input into the treatment and discharge plan
Instructs patients on their role in various procedures and metabolic protocols covering information previously discussed with the patient by the Physician or RN
Reviews current treatment plan - CPRS records on assigned patients prior to initiation of any procedures or protocols - to ensure quality care
Documents in clinical record the patient's progress toward protocols - medical treatment needs and interventions
discharge planning and referral data
Other duties may include: Obtain venous blood samples by aseptic venipuncture technique from patients in the Outpatient Clinic
Proficiently collects blood samples with a minimal number of failures - patient bruising - or required resticks
Verifies patient information and tests ordered in the computer system
Specimens must be properly labeled and initiated - following specimen procurement policies and procedures
Performs a range of support duties to include obtaining specimens - including - but not limited to - blood (phlebotomy) - urine - feces - nasopharyngeal swabs - fecal occult blood specimens (FOBT kit)
Performs the processing of all clinical laboratory specimens and is responsible for the timely and proper distribution of specimens to the reference laboratories to include centrifuges - decants - and aliquots specimens as appropriate
Responsible for proper disposition of laboratory waste in the laboratory
Obtains and documents patients' vital signs - 12 Lead ECGs and reports abnormal findings to PACT team members
Moves - lifts - transfers - and transports patients as necessary - knowledge of pain scale monitoring
Incumbent also monitors lab environment: such as temperatures - freezers - refrigerators and incubators to ensure that they are working as expected
Incumbent has a general knowledge of Laboratory accreditation requirements that are recommended by CAP - FDA and Joint Commission
Performs ancillary testing such as CLIA waived testing and operates instrumentation necessary for testing
Completes eyewash station testing
Performs urine pregnancy testing to include controls
Perform quality control (QC) on glucose testing machine
The incumbent must possess the ability to work with all levels of healthcare system personnel and willing to assist the healthcare system staff with a variety of laboratory policies and procedures
The incumbent will have contact with veteran patients - family members - all levels of NTX staff including physicians - nurses - technicians - etc
and be able to effectively interact with personnel at all levels of the facility and is expected to maintain an attitude of professionalism and respect towards all
Patient/family teaching - electronic documentation - and basic computer knowledge
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 7:00am to 3:30pm
May be required to work other shifts - be on call - work weekends and/or holidays as patient care and needs of the service require
Should operational needs dictate - candidates must be willing to work within other units (including community based outpatient clinics - for example) to assist and support continuation of the provision of care/services
Work Location: Polk VA Clinic - 4243 South Polk Street - Dallas - TX 75224-4928 Position Description/PD#:Health Technician (Outpatient Lab) - Direct Hire Authority/PD07908A Virtual: This is not a virtual position
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Requirements: The work on the Unit requires some physical exertion
The Technician must be able to transport patients by wheelchair or stretcher - patients who require observation or monitoring
The duties require extensive periods of standing - walking - bending - lifting - pushing - and pulling
It involves positioning patients and transferring patients to wheelchairs - chairs - and stretchers
The Technician must demonstrate some agility and dexterity to perform phlebotomy - IV therapy - laboratory procedures - and EKGs
The Technician must be able to work 8-12 hour shifts
Technicians must have the ability to function in stressful situations.
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