Employment Type:

Full time

Shift:

Day Shift

Description:

POSITION PURPOSE 

Under limited supervision and/or according to established policy and procedure, is responsible for executing assigned phlebotomy (procurement of blood specimens), specimen processing, rapid testing, and Point-of-Care (POC) testing laboratory functions.  As a member of the laboratory team, the Laboratory Assistant serves as the laboratory and hospital liaison to patients, clients, physicians, and staff members and adheres to hospital and laboratory policy and procedure related to blood borne pathogens and safety.  
 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS  

• Knows, understands, incorporates, and demonstrates the Trinity Health Mission, Vision, and Values in behaviors, practices, and decisions.  

• Is proficient in the appropriate designated use of Laboratory Information System, to include but not be limited to, department order entry, specimen log-in, modify collections, reprint labels, printing collection lists, printing pending collections, and other basic computer functions. 

• Demonstrates knowledge of performing Rapid and Point-Of-Care testing in accordance with written laboratory policy and procedure. 

• Is technically proficient in procurement of blood samples via arterial, blood cultures, capillary collection (finger/heel stick), and venipuncture technique. 

• Always follows established positive patient identification procedures PRIOR to the collection of patient samples.  Labels samples in compliance with hospital and established laboratory policy and procedure. 

• Is responsible for receiving, appropriately logging and verifying receipt of all specimen types in the laboratory according to laboratory policy and procedure.  Also distributes those specimens appropriately to the designated testing areas of the laboratory. 

• Validates that all samples collected by nursing personnel from patients with indwelling vascular access are collected in accordance with laboratory policy and procedure and labeled appropriately. 

• Assembles and transports samples to the laboratory in accordance with test specifications (i.e. ammonia on ice, cold agglutinins kept warm) and alerts technologists that the samples are available for processing. 

• Is a team-player who readily assists co-workers as indicated with workload, hard-sticks and collections from children or combative patients. 

• Maintains an organized, clean, safe collection tray and work environment. 

• Assists in receiving and stocking supplies, rotating inventory, and inventory control. 

• Is capable of answering phone inquiries, to relate specimen status, and results in accordance with HIPAA standards. 

• Actively participates in departmental meetings, committees, conferences, professional development opportunities and in-services. 

• Adheres to hospital policy and procedure related to patient precautions and special considerations/guidelines that are posted inside/outside the patient room, i.e. infection control precautions, isolation precautions, mastectomy precautions. 

• Is knowledgeable of and actively participates in improving patient safety and reducing risk to patients.  Complies with Safety and Infection Control Policies and Procedures. 

• Maintains confidentiality of