Health Technician

You will serve as a Health Technician in the Laboratory Services at the Richland Community-Based Outpatient Clinic. This is an Open Continuous Announcement. Qualified applicants will begin to be referred to the hiring manager on Monday, August 3rd, 2026. After that, applicants will only be referred to the hiring manager upon request from the hiring manager. This position will remain open until the closing date unless the position is filled, in which case the announcement will be closed.

Maintain an adequate supply of phlebotomy supplies and reports shortages to logistics staff or the supervisor for resolution. Ensure that only in-date supplies are used, rotate supplies appropriately to minimize waste and discard expired supplies appropriately (biohazard, sharps, or routine waste containers). Collects and processes blood and body fluid specimens, ensuring safety and non-traumatic processes are used with critical concern for the patient and the quality of the specimen with a minimal number of failures, patient bruising, or required re-sticks. Identify tests that require special handling conditions. Demonstrates knowledge of principles, techniques, and practices of phlebotomy and requirement of blood collection for the various tests performed in the laboratory. Adheres to safety, infection control and universal precautions always while collecting samples. Processes specimens received for testing, which involves accessioning the specimens, determining the appropriate specimen preparation, and creating the manifest for specimens sent to main laboratory. Uses laboratory equipment such as centrifuges, refrigerators, and freezers, in addition to consumables such as transfer pipettes, laboratory pour-off tubes and reference laboratory specimen containers. Reviews orders in CERNER (PATHNET) to ensure all necessary orders are drawn. Prepares specimens for pickup to ensure delivery of specimens and supplies arrive at the testing facility at the correct temperature for testing, intact in the container, without breakage or leakage, in the shortest possible time and in compliance with all applicable regulations. Perform other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM PDT. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Technician/PD80397-A and PD80399-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not approved. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. Physical Requirements: The work for this position involves various physical demands requiring the employee to be versatile in the many functions performed. These include sedentary work performed at a desk with intermittent standing, walking, bending, lifting, stooping, and stretching. When transferring patients, providing patient care, the employee must practice good body mechanics to prevent injury to self and others. The demands may be unpredictable requiring the incumbent to adjust accordingly. Requires the ability to work under pressure, make sound decisions, and maintain composure in different situations if necessary. Work is performed at a fast pace. In many situations the duration of the activity (such as most of a workday) contributes to the arduous nature of the job. Position requires occasional lifting of reagent and supply containers weighing up to 20 pounds. Work Conditions: Work is performed in inpatient, outpatient, intensive care, and extended care areas of the hospital. The areas are typically well lit, ventilated and air conditioned. Outside noise interference is reduced to a minimum. Work is performed within full view and hearing of patients and the public. There are moderate risks which require safety precautions: These may involve stress, verbal or physical abuse caused by disturbed or agitated patients or family. The employee is subject to exposure to communicable diseases. Contact with patients Increases significant chances of needle sticks. The use of protective equipment, such as, but not limited to, gloves and protective clothing is required. The technician is regularly exposed to bio-hazardous material encountered in a clinical laboratory. This includes daily exposure to potentially infectious patients or materials, and occasional exposure to hazardous chemicals.

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment. A pre-placement physical examination is not required. 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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). 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. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary 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 probationary period period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.