Phlebotomist I - Casual

Why work for Nebraska Methodist Health System?

At Nebraska Methodist Health System, we focus on providing exceptional care to the communities we serve and people we employ. We call it The Meaning of Care – a culture that has and will continue to set us apart. It’s helping families grow by making each delivery special, conveying a difficult diagnosis with a compassionate touch, going above and beyond for a patient’s needs, or giving a high five when a patient beats a disease or conquers a personal health challenge. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits and a great work environment where all employees are valued! Most importantly, our employees are part of a team that makes a real difference in the communities we live and work in.

Job Summary

Location: Jennie Edmundson Medical Plaza

Address: 808 E Pierce St. - Council Bluffs, IA

Work Schedule: This is a casual position. Casual employees work on an ‘as needed’ basis to meet the needs of the business.  Work days/hours will often vary from week to week. The hours for this position are usually Monday through Friday 7am to 5pm.

Collect and preserve blood samples and certain other body fluids for analysis.

Process (i.e. centrifuge, aliquot, distribute, store) patient specimens appropriately and in a safe manner. Utilizes interpersonal skills in communication and cooperation to assist with processing specimen, entering data, and cleaning work section to ensure patient satisfaction.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions

Performs duties of Phlebotomist to assist in the daily workload by performing assigned tasks.

• Assists in daily workload.
• Compliant per PPE guidelines.
• Performs basic dermal and venipuncture collection. Performs complex phlebotomy procedures including infant venipunctures, blood culture collections, or port accessing/deaccessing and specimen processing.
• Maintains compliance with established processes: turn-around time expectations, collecting and handling specimens, proper documentation of sample collection.
• Accommodates patient and laboratory needs by professionally responding to requests for flexibility in duties, schedules and staffing.
  
  

Performs duties in Specimen Processing to assist in daily workload by performing assigned tasks.

• Process (i.e. centrifuge, aliquot, distribute, store) patient specimens appropriately, and in a safe manner to ensure accurate, and timely test results by following laboratory policies and procedures.
• Operate laboratory equipment for which they have received applicable training, and approval to perform
• Perform laboratory information system, and electronic health record computer functions accurately to complete daily tasks.
• Properly process, and distribute specimens following collection.
• Perform all specimen processing functions to receive, and process specimens according to the laboratory protocol, including, but not limited to: identification, and preparation for the analyzers, and preparing specimens to be sent to the reference laboratories.
• Label specimens, and order documents using proper patient identification techniques.
• Accurately enter patient information (i.e. demographics, test orders, test results) in the computer to ensure timely reports to caregivers.
• Compliant per PPE guidelines 100% of the time.
• Accommodate patient and laboratory needs by professionally responding to requests for flexibility in duties, schedules and staffing.
• Maintain section supplies, materials and equipment by following section policies.
• Maintain a clean and orderly section to ensure a safe working environment by assisting in cleaning and organizing supplies and work areas.
• Assist with inventory tracking, and ordering to ensure the laboratory has the supplies necessary to provide essential required services.
  
  

Promote and maintain communication within the laboratory and clinic, as well as with hospital personnel, couriers, and clients to facilitate excellent laboratory services by using the phone, taking messages, and forwarding information to the appropriate personnel.

• Provide help/guidance regarding test directory inquiries.
• Participates as a team member to facilitate the efficiency and effectiveness of the section by utilizing interpersonal skills in communication, cooperation, and assisting coworkers in all areas.
• Communicates efficiently by answering telephones, taking messages, and forwarding information or calls to appropriate staff.
  
  

Prioritize and organize work to facilitate the time and accurate completion of multiple tasks simultaneously by assessing the urgency of the tasks and the time required to complete them.

• Complete work in a timely manner as directly observed by supervisory personnel.
• No recurring valid complaints from laboratory personnel or clients.
  
  

Document orientation, training, and education to ensure employee competence, provide excellent services, and meet accreditation requirements by effective verbal or written communication.

• Organizational and department competencies are completed 100% of the time.
• Evidence that new procedures and procedure revisions are read and understood.
  
  

Participates in Continuing Education.

• Required annual Continuing Education hours.
  
  

Schedule

Work Schedule: This is a casual position. Casual employees work on an ‘as needed’ basis to meet the needs of the business.  Work days/hours will often vary from week to week. The hours for this position are usually Monday through Friday 7am to 5pm.

Job Description

Job Requirements

Education

• High school diploma, General Educational Development (GED) or equivalent required.
• Participates in mandatory in-services and continuing education programs as mandated by policies and procedures, accrediting agencies and as directed by Lab Director.
  
  

Experience

• One year minimum Phlebotomy experience that qualifies for American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification eligibility required AND experience in the following areas required:
• Routine venipuncture.
• AND
• Routine dermal puncture.
• AND
• Experience in one of the following areas required:
• Infant Venipuncure
• Blood Culture Collection
• Port Accessing/Deaccessing
• Specimen Processing
  

License/Certifications

• American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Phlebotomy Technician (PBT) certification highly preferred.
  
  

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Requires strong attention to detail.
• Requires occasional projects and assignments/participation.
  
  

Physical Requirements

Weight Demands

• Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force.
  
  

Physical Activity

• Not necessary for the position (0%): - Crawling
• Occasionally Performed (1%-33%):
• Climbing
• Kneeling
• Sitting
• Frequently Performed (34%-66%):
• Balancing
• Crouching
• Keyboarding/typing
• Lifting
• Pulling/Pushing
• Constantly Performed (67%-100%):
• Carrying
• Distinguish colors
• Fingering/Touching
• Grasping
• Hearing
• Reaching
• Repetitive Motions
• Seeing/Visual
• Speaking/talking
• Standing
• Stooping/bending
• Twisting
• Walking
  

Job Hazards

• Not Related:
• Explosives (pressurized gas)
• Electrical Shock/Static
• Radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma (particles such as X-ray, Cat Scan, Gamma Knife, etc)
• Radiation Non-Ionizing (Ultraviolet, visible light, infrared and microwaves that causes injuries to tissue or thermal or photochemical means)
• Mechanical moving parts/vibrations
• Rare (1-33%): - Equipment/Machinery/Tools
• Frequent (67%-100%):
• Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex)
• Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact) Blood or Body Fluid (BBF)
• Physical hazards (noise, temperature, lighting, wet floors, outdoors, sharps) (more than ordinary office environment)
  

About Methodist

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, more than 30 clinic locations, a nursing and allied health college, and a medical supply distributorship and central laundry facility. From the day Methodist Hospital was chartered in 1891, service to our communities has been a top priority. Financial assistance, health education, outreach to our diverse communities and populations, and other community benefit activities have always been central to our mission.

Nebraska Methodist Health System is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by Federal, state or local law.