Histology Technician

Job Title: Histology Technician

Location: RWJ - New Brunswick

Department Name: Lab RWJNB

Req #: 0000240704

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $45.46 - $45.46 per hour

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Summary of Job Function

• Prepares tissue specimens so they may be reviewed by the pathologist for diagnosis,
• Performs special stains as well as routine hematoxylin and eosin stains,
• Performs immunohistochemical stains for further diagnosis,
• Processes muscle and renal biopsies,

Education:

High School graduate or equivalent,

Experience:

Must be able to prepare tissue specimens of a quality that can be diagnosed by a pathologist,

Work Environment and Hazards

Exposure to blood borne pathogens, such as human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis viruses, and other pathogenic organisms (disease producing) for humans such as those that cause meningitis, septicemia, gastroenteritis, tuberculosis, parasitic infections, fungal infections which can be occupationally acquired, also exposed to potentially carcinogenic (cancer producing) and other hazardous chemicals,

Required to wear protective garments such as gloves, mask, goggles, lab coat, gown, or apron and work under a biological fume safety cabinet,

Refer to the RWJUH and OSHA Exposure Control Plan, the Chemical Hygiene Plan, and the policies on Standard Precautions and Safety located in the Lab Administrative Offices,

Special Physical Demands

A physical condition that allows reaching and general mobility within the department and to other hospital departments,

Manual dexterity is required,

Visual acuity must be such as to enable accurate performance of essential job duties,

Hearing and speech must permit direct and telephone communication,

In addition, must be able to function under rapidly changing and stressful conditions,

Sitting, standing, walking, some bending and lifting up to 50 pounds,

Environment of Care:

Demonstrates the awareness of safety, security, life safety, preparedness and utility and equipment management policies competencies;

Adheres to Standard Precautions

Adheres to Safety and Infection

Control policies

Attends mandatory in-services

Demonstrates awareness of security, life safety, emergency

Preparedness and utility and equipment management policies and procedures

Helps maintain a safe and clean patient/work environment

Follows incident reporting procedures

Confidentiality:

Maintaining confidentiality is an important responsibility of all employees of RWJUH,

Patient information should never be disclosed in elevators, cafeterias, hallways, restrooms, or other public areas,

Each individual should sign off the computer system when leaving his/her work site,

Patient records or verbal information regarding the patient may not be released without the patient's authorization,

A release from is available at Medical Records,

Security codes should not be shared with coworkers,

Employee must immediately report any activity, by any person, that violates the Hospital's policies on confidentiality, information security and/or privacy,

Employee information and/or records may not be released without the employee's written and signed permission,

Diagnostic patient information and/or procedure schedules should not be visible to patients or visitors,

Documents with confidential data are destroyed appropriately,

Never review patient information when you are not directly involved in the specifics of a patient's care or are not reviewing the delivery of care,

Corporate Compliance:

Ensures that appropriate standards of practice follow corporate compliance guidelines, acts in an ethical and legal manner, and assures that all actions are in the best interest of the hospital,

The results of accreditation surveys and licensure reviews by NJSDOH, CAP, and JC are satisfactory,

Job Specific Requirements

Prepares tissue specimens to be reviewed by pathologist,

Embedding, sectioning and routine hematoxylin and eosin staining are performed according to policy and procedure manual,

- Can produce quality tissue sections of kidney cut at 2 microns,

- Demonstrates the ability to snap-freeze kidney and muscle tissue,

- Produce quality frozen section suitable for immunofluorescent staining,

- Has the ability to dissect both kidney and muscle biopsies for EM studies,

- Perform immuno fluorescent staining of frozen kidney tissue,

- Able to perform immunohistochemical staining techniques,

- Understands the concept of quality control both for positive and negative staining,

- Able to manage the antibody inventory,

- Decalcification of all bone specimens, bone marrows and aspiration biopsies is performed so that the specimen can be cut without difficulty to produce a slide adequate for patient diagnosis,

Uses special staining techniques when requested,

- Follows procedures as written in the manual,

- Quality of finished slides must be acceptable to the pathologist

- Judgement based on control slides when applicable,

- Stains are logged in special stain book noting the quality of the stain,

- Decalcification of all bones and bone marrows so that quality tissue slides can be cut,

- Maintains accuracy of patient identification

- Correctly assigns pathology numbers to patients using a computer,

- Processes specimens so block and slide labels are correct,

- Files slides and blocks in correct order,

- Equipment is operated, maintained and repaired according to manufacturer's instructions and manual,

- Quality control charts documented daily,

Preventive maintenance is performed on schedule,

Demonstrates cooperation & flexibility on the job as evidenced by the following key performance indicators:

- Utilizes lulls (15 minutes or more between assignments) in the workload to assist other section/department staff in completing their assignments where feasible,

- Provides break and meal coverage,

- Adheres to prescribed times for break/meal times,

- Accepts and performs in a timely and correct manner other duties as assigned,

Utilizes proper techniques and abides by safety regulations according to the following indicators:

- Closely adheres to Universal Precautions, Laboratory Chemical Hygiene Plan, Hazcom protocols and the OSHA Blood-Borne Pathogen Exposure Control Plan,

- All waste is disposed of correctly,

- Spills are cleaned up immediately in accordance with the Chemical Hygiene Plan and MSDS instructions,

Supervisor is notified,

- Insures that gas tanks are secured appropriately,ie,chained or secured holders,

- Personal Protective Equipment (gloves, lab coats, masks, aprons, eyewear, etc,) is worn appropriately as indicated,

- Environmental controls (barriers, fume hoods, sharps equipment) are used correctly as indicated,

- Annual safety testing documentation is completed,

- Is familiar and abides by all regulations appropriate to Hospital and Laboratories as dictated by:1,NJ Department of Health

2,CLIA / CMS 3, JC - Joint Commission 4, CAP - College of American Pathologists

-Communicates and cooperates with supervisor, coworkers and hospital staff,

-Utilizes good interpersonal skills which include maintaining good working relations with fellow employees,

-Retains and expands knowledge through continuing education,

-Attends in-house or outside seminars: reads and reports on journal articles; watches or listens to topics presented on video or audiocassettes,

-Has demonstrated effort in working towards goals established during the previous performance evaluation,

Choosing RWJBarnabas Health!

RWJBarnabas Health is the premier health care destination providing patient-centered, high-quality academic medicine in a compassionate and equitable manner, while delivering a best-in-class work experience to every member of the team. We honor and appreciate the privilege of creating and sustaining healthier communities, one person and one community at a time. As the leading academic health system in New Jersey, we advance innovative strategies in high-quality patient care, education, and research to address both the clinical and social determinants of health.

RWJBarnabas Health aims to truly make a unique impact in local communities throughout New Jersey. From vastly improving the health of local residents to creating educational and career opportunities, this combination greatly benefits the state. We understand the growing and evolving needs of residents in New Jersey-whether that be enhancing the coordination for treating complex health conditions or improving community health through local programs and education.

Equal Opportunity Employer