Position Summary / Career Interest:

The Phlebotomist Float is a position within the clinical laboratory working independently to perform blood draws on patients located in a variety of locations within the Health System. The Phlebotomist Float has no home site, but rather travels to cover for absences of regular Phlebotomists and heavy work volumes between a number of Health System sites throughout the metropolitan area, and travel assignments may vary from day to day. The Phlebotomist Float may receive reporting instructions the night before or the morning of and may travel a wide variety of distances to report to work. Additionally, the shifts may have slightly variable start and end times.   The Phlebotomist Float position performs positive patient identification for each patient prior to blood draw and confirms patient identification after labeling the tubes, and releases orders out of the Hospital Information System (HIS) and receives specimens in the Laboratory Information System (LIS); and processes specimens to include centrifugation, aliquoting urine and pouring off plasma or serum if necessary for testing.   Additionally, the Phlebotomist Float in the Ambulatory setting must prepare specimens for transport by scanning the bar-coded sample onto a LIS packing list. The Phlebotomist Float must be able to troubleshoot difficult orders and assist with troubleshooting missing specimens when indicated. This position performs some data entry functions, manages requisitions and answers telephones to assist Laboratory customers. The Phlebotomist Float must be patient focused and capable of multi-tasking in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities and Essential Job Functions

• "Performs blood draws by venipuncture according to standard protocol, ensuring patient safety and quality specimen collection at multiple locations as required
• Performs specimen collection using appropriate techniques and adhering to requirements. Provides patients and/or care providers with instructions and necessary materials for specimen collection
• Provides immediate patient care if patient exhibits sign of a post-venipuncture reaction, typically vasovagal
• Assesses patient presentation and escorts patient to draw room with recliner if patient is an adolescent or young adult or states that they typically have a reaction to having their blood drawn
• Performs data entry in applicable information systems in compliance with departmental and organizational policies
• Ensures proper container type, centrifugation, and transport conditions for specimens. Able to determine appropriateness of specimens for add-on testing
• Releases orders on ambulatory health system patients with orders in HIS
• Receives samples in LIS, prints barcode labels and affixes labels to specimens. Enters outside orders in LIS when copy of outside order is scanned into HIS
• Consults Phlebotomy Coordinator, Supervisor or Lab Leadership when appropriate if situation requires assistance - Provides assistance to nursing staff when requested
• Performs specimen processing duties such as aliquoting urine and separating blood samples when required for testing
• Understands pre-analytical variables that can impact test results: Container Type, Time, Temperature, Centrifugation, labeling. Able to determine appropriateness of specimens for addon testing
• Responds to telephone inquiries and provides customer service to the end caller by addressing their needs and troubleshooting
• Instructs, orients and mentors students, employees, patients and other health care providers as applicable
• Maintains an adequate inventory of supplies
• Must be able to perform the professional, clinical and or technical competencies of the assigned unit or department.
• These statements are intended to describe the essential functions of the job and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities. Skills and duties may vary dependent upon your department or unit. Other duties may be assigned as required.

Required Education and Experience

• High School Graduate
• 1 or more years of specimen collection and processing experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

• 1 or more years of phlebotomist experience at TUKHS.

Required Licensure and Certification

• Valid driver’s license and clean driving record and must be able to maintain alertness while driving long distances.

Preferred Licensure and Certification

• Phlebotomist ASCP or AMT certification.

Knowledge Requirements

• Effective written and oral communication skills required.
• Must have knowledge of medical terminology related to blood collection and safety practices.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated skill with laboratory information systems.
• Advanced level of skill in adult and pediatric phlebotomy.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.