Current, permanent VA employees or Federal employees from another agency, should apply under CBST-11786997-23-DB. This position is located in the Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service within the Veterans Healthcare System of the Ozarks in Fayetteville, AR. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). Education and/or Experience Combination: Individuals must have successfully completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college/university and successfully completed a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredited cytotechnology program. Foreign Graduates. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must have been submitted to a private organization approved by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education must have been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. programs. Certification: Candidates must currently possess the Cytotechnologist (CT) (ASCP) or Specialist in Cytotechnology (SCT) (ASCP) certification given by the ASCP Board of Certification. Grade Determinations: Cytotechnologist, GS-11 Experience. The candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the journey level (GS-9) that is directly related to the position to be filled. Examples of creditable experience include but not limited to independently review clinical data of patients and evaluates all cytology preparations by light microscopy for the presence or absence of cellular patterns, presence of micro-organisms, inflammatory reactions, endocrinopathies, benign changes, pre-malignant changes, neoplasia, and cellular responses to therapeutic agents, issue and verify the final diagnosis for negative gynecologic specimens; prioritizes, prepare and process all specimens for cytodiagnostic and immunohistochemical testing in compliance with the guidelines of regulatory agencies, instruct others on the proper collection methods and transportation of specimens and determines acceptability of patient samples for processing, perform routine maintenance of equipment using standard operating procedures. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i. Ability to independently determine specimen adequacy using complex specialized testing methods or techniques during Endoscopic Ultrasound, Endobronchial Ultrasound, and other Fine Needle Aspiration procedures. ii. Knowledge of pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical processes to establish and monitor the overall laboratory quality management and quality control program, and initiate corrective action as needed. iii. Skill in collecting, compiling, and analyzing data for quality assurance, statistics, trends and reports, and implementing quality improvement initiatives. iv. Skill in researching, testing, validating, and implementing new procedures and equipment. References: VA Handbook 5005/126, Part II Appendix G61, Cytotechnologist Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: The work requires manual dexterity, visual acuity, and color discernment, and the ability to sit and concentrate for long periods of time, and to stand for several consecutive hours during the preparation of specimens. (See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Services). ["The duties of the Cytotechnologist in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service include but are not limited to: Performs highly specialized work with the responsibility for distinguishing various benign conditions from dysplasia/neoplasia and identifying a variety of infectious agents. Examines a variety of specimens for cytological examination to include but are not limited to respiratory tract material, gastrointestinal material, urological material, body fluids, gynecologic smears, cerebrospinal fluid, and fine needle aspirations of various organs and body sites. Examines and evaluates cell samples for the presence or absence of normal/abnormal, patterns, presence of microorganisms, inflammatory reactions, endocrinopathies, benign changes, premalignant changes, neoplasms, and cellular responses to therapeutic agents. Performs microscopic examination for abnormal cells or any objects of diagnostic significance and marks these cells or objects for review. Classifies any abnormalities according to established procedures and writes a screening cytology report to be given to the responsible pathologist. Signs out Gynecological cases without pathologist review. Teaches Cytotechnology students by providing interaction on a one-to-one basis at the microscope. Maintains continuing education requirements and keeps abreast of the latest developments in the field of cytotechnology/cytology by reviewing current publications, and attending meetings, seminars, teleconferences, and workshops. Evaluates and recommends possible new techniques/procedures for implementation. Maintains current CAP certification requirements by successfully completing the CAP PAP Examination annually. Order supplies and maintain adequate inventory for uninterrupted service in the Cytology area. Sets up and develops protocols for new instruments and procedures from well stablished references. Develops and tests quality control methods using statistical data where indicated. Advises providers, ward and clinic personnel on proper specimen collection techniques. Communicates with providers, ward and clinic personnel when specimens are improperly submitted. Maintains cytology slide files and handles slide request in-house and from outside facilities according to established procedures. Prepares statistical reports using quality control data recorded in accordance with established procedures. Prepares and maintains the cytology chemical inventory and reports to the P&LMS Safety Officer. Selects, performs, evaluates, and monitors the performance of the full range of nonroutine and specialized procedures/techniques using manual and/or instrumental techniques in accordance with established protocols. Recognizes and reacts to indicators of malfunction; locates and implements corrections. Makes professional decisions on the appropriate method of collection and handling of specimens including selecting the appropriate portion of the specimen for processing and the type of preparation method to be used. Resolves discrepancies and calls wards/clinics/providers as needed. Reviews information provided on the requisition sheet and specimen container and determines if additional data is required prior to logging the specimen into the VISTA computer system. Prepare and analyze samples, such as Papanicolaou (PAP) smear body fluids and fine needle aspirations (FNAs), to detect abnormal conditions. Performs the duties of cytology specimen preparation and staining. Cleans and disinfects cytology areas and equipment. Assists the clinician at bedside with the preparation of fine needle biopsy slides to determine immediate evaluation for adequacy. Carefully monitors the processing and quality of all preparations. Conducts quality control checks on stains and reagents, making changes when necessary. Adjusts, maintains, or repairs all cytology equipment. Determines need for repair or replacement of equipment. Verifies proper instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks as necessary. Identifies the cause of common problems and makes simple repairs. Disposes of biohazard material and biological specimens after determining proper disposal protocol. Prepares fixatives, reagents, etc., as needed for specimen handling and cytology preparatory work. Performs histopathology duties to include gross examination of tissues and submission for examination by pathologist. Report tissue description in the patient medical record. Maintain effective laboratory operations by adhering to standards of specimen collection, preparation, or laboratory safety. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 564-00109-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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