Lead Donor Technician

GENERAL SUMMARY/ OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

Under the direction of the Nurse Manager, Blood Donor Services, and Charge Nurse, the Lead Donor Technician provides leadership, training, validations, and daily supervision of the donor center staff to ensure the team functions as a cohesive unit. Mastered all competencies of a Donor Tech I & II. Appointed as charge on mobile blood drives in the absence of a charge nurse. Leads the team of donor technicians, manages donor flow, and responsible for the end of day audits of products on mobile blood drives. The Lead Donor technician complies with AABB standards, FDA regulations and other regulatory agency guidelines.

Additional responsibilities include the following-

• Training and\or precepting new staff
• Monitoring departmental quality controls
• Maintaining par stock of supplies
• Reviews and contributes to SOP development
• Ensures the safety of the donor and the safety of the blood collected
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Ability to work independently and serve as a unit resource
• Balance's production, donor care, and quality
• A positive role model for other technicians
• Provides leadership and consistently affects the workplace in a meaningful manner

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Interviews donors to determine eligibility according to the donor selection criteria of the departmental Standard Operating Procedures. The selection procedure is to include the medical history and physical examination.
2. Conducts a medical history and physical examination that includes pulse, blood pressure, temperature, a vein check, and blood sample to perform a point of care test to measure hemoglobin.
3. Provides the donor with opportunity to ask questions and provides explanation to assure donor understanding.
4. Follows established criteria for the temporary/permanent deferral of donors to prevent inadvertent collection from a donor who is ineligible. Refers problems or questions of donor suitability to registered nurse or Medical Director.
5. Obtains and/or documents Informed Consent of a blood or apheresis donor prior to collection; explains elements of donation procedure including information on risks of procedure and tests performed.
6. Performs whole blood collection using established sterile technique in preparation of phlebotomy site.
7. Performs platelet pheresis collection using an apheresis system.
8. Maintains continuity of donor identification by carefully labeling of all collection bags and pilot tubes and assuring volume collected is appropriate.
9. Observes donors/patients for adverse reactions and takes appropriate action.
10. Collects blood pressure, pulse, temperature, and point of care test for hemoglobin prior therapeutic phlebotomies and follows order parameters per ordering providers
11. Performs therapeutic phlebotomies according to departmental Standard Operating Procedures
12. Performs daily quality control, including daily scale calibration and other equipment used in the selection and collection process. Responsible for the documentation and corrective action as needed
13. Completes end of day audit of products while as charge on mobile blood drives.
14. Manages donor technician staff while on the blood mobile and escalates concerns/issues to nurse manager/nurse director appropriately.
15. Oversees the performance of daily quality control tasks. Ensures documentation and corrective action as needed. Brings problems to the Nurse Flow Manager as needed.
16. Maintains appropriate inventory of supplies for the Donor Room and bus. Works with the Mobile Drive Coordinators to ensure supplies are ordered for the bus.
17. Supports the component lab to help resolve issues or delays. Trains staff to ship out all products.
18. Ship-outs stem cell products
19. Follows all safety and infection control policies, ensures a clean work area, and performs other duties as required at the Donor Center and Off-Site Mobile Blood Drives.
20. When assigned to work on the Blood Mobile, access to reliable transportation to various sites within Massachusetts is necessary.
21. Is a role model for professional and caring behavior in the workplace. Consistently affects the workplace in a positive manner.
22. Performs all tasks of Level 1 and II Apheresis technologist at an expert level.
23. Trains and precepts new donor staff and/or complete final sign off
24. Supports the charge nurse and works as team player

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. High School Diploma or equivalent.
2. Phlebotomist or Medical assistant training certificate or equivalent work experience required.
3. Demonstrates progressive leadership skills
4. Must have blood donation experience in blood whole blood and platelet apheresis and competent in all procedures.
5. Phlebotomy certification required. Donor Phlebotomy Technician certification DPT(ASCP) preferred but, not required.

SKILLS/ ABILITIES/ COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

1. Flexible in scheduling to meet needs of department.
2. Charge on mobile blood drives
3. Demonstrates good judgment and seeks out guidance with questions.
4. Exceptional English speaking verbal communication skills.
5. Attention to detail and thorough completion of assigned tasks.
6. Interacts courteously and effectively with donors, patients, co-workers, physicians, other hospital personnel and outside contacts.
7. Neat and orderly work habits.
8. Ability to remain calm and efficient in stressful situations.
9. Exceptional phlebotomy skills
10. Intermediate computer skills

WORKING CONDITIONS:

1. Donor Room and Off-Site Mobile Blood Drive environments.
2. Exposure to potentially infectious specimens.
3. Frequent standing, walking, bending required to perform procedures.
4. Moderate amount of lifting and carrying of equipment/supplies weighing 10-50 pounds.
5. Occasionally aids patient/donor in treatment of reactions. Provides physical support to patients to lie down or sit up.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

1. Provides input for performance evaluations of the donor technicians.
2. Works with flow manager in coordinating orientation plans for new staff
3. Manages donor room staff while on blood mobile.