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Laboratory Support Technician

SSM Health · IL · $18.09–$27.14 an hour · Full time

Posted Oct 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This role works in phlebotomy, Monday through Thursday, 7:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. What experience do you have with overnight work, and how do you stay accurate late at night?

What they are checking: Whether they can stay careful on overnight shifts when labeling and processing mistakes are easier to make.

Tell me about a time you had several urgent tasks at once. How did you decide what to do first?

What they are checking: Whether they prioritize stat orders and time-sensitive samples correctly in a fast-paced setting.

Describe a time you made a mistake at work. What did you do about it?

What they are checking: Whether they report errors right away, which matters a lot when lab results guide patient care.

What would you do

You arrive to draw blood and the patient is asleep and has no wristband on. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they refuse to draw without proper identification even when it slows them down.

A patient is terrified of needles and starts to panic. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can calm a scared patient and recognize signs of fainting to keep them safe.

A nurse calls frustrated because a lab result is taking too long. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can stay professional, check the status and communicate clearly with clinical teams.

About the work

Walk me through how you identify a patient before drawing their blood.

What they are checking: Whether they always use two identifiers, since a mislabeled specimen can lead to the wrong treatment.

How do you handle a specimen that arrives at the lab unlabeled or mislabeled?

What they are checking: Whether they follow the rule of rejecting and recollecting instead of guessing whose specimen it is.

What steps do you take to process a sample correctly once it reaches the lab, like spinning, sorting or storing it?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that wrong handling ruins samples and delays results for patients.

How do you protect yourself and others from exposure to blood and body fluids?

What they are checking: Whether they follow safety practices like PPE and sharps disposal every time, not just when it's convenient.

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The full job description

As published by SSM Health.

It's more than a career, it's a calling IL-SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital - Mount Vernon Worker Type: Regular Job Highlights: Join a team where your work matters—every moment, every patient, every community. At SSM Health, you’ll be empowered to grow, supported to thrive, and inspired to make a lasting impact. In this role, you will provide hands-on support in a fast-paced care environment where every shift makes a direct impact on patients and families. Your attention to detail, compassion, and ability to work closely with clinical teams will help create a safer, smoother care experience. Department: Phlebotomy Schedule: Monday - Thursday 1930 - 0600. Apply today. SSM Health – We bring out the incredible in you, everyday. Pay Range: $18.09 - $27.14 Pay Rate Type: Hourly SSM Health values the skills and talents that each team member brings to our organization. Compensation for this role is based on a variety of components including relevant experience, labor market, and other qualifications. The posted pay range for this position is what SSM Health reasonably expects, in good faith, to offer based on the circumstances at the time of posting. SSM Health may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range as permitted by law. Job Summary: Under general supervision, this position performs standard laboratory tasks according to procedures. May perform phlebotomy and/or waived testing. May also perform various low complexity testing as well as a variety of general clerical duties to support the laboratory department, including receptionist and secretarial support, admission activities, and order entry processing. Job Responsibilities and Requirements: PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES • Performs the loading and unloading of lab specimens from automated and non-automated instrumentation, as well as perform various waived testing. • Assists in problem requisitions/specimens. • May orient new hires. • Assists customers including answering phones and responding to customer inquiries. • Collects, labels, processes and preserves blood, urine and other specimens according to established laboratory procedures. • Enters, accesses and executes lab orders in the appropriate laboratory and electronic medical record system. • Cleans and maintains laboratory supplies and work area. • May update statistical records, labels tubes, and schedules processing runs. • May perform moderate complexity testing. • May perform phlebotomy and/or waived testing. • Identifies patients using two identifiers. • Performs a variety of administrative and clerical duties including admission activities, insurance verification, order entry processing and medical record processing. • Works in a constant state of alertness and safe manner. • Performs other duties as assigned. EDUCATION • High School diploma/GED or 10 years of work experience. EXPERIENCE • One year experience in a laboratory setting PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Frequent lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 0-25 lbs. • Frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching and repetitive foot/leg and hand/arm movements. • Frequent use of vision and depth perception for distances near (20 inches or less) and far (20 feet or more) and to identify and distinguish colors. • Frequent use of hearing and speech to share information through oral communication. Ability to hear alarms, malfunctioning machinery, etc. • Frequent keyboard use/data entry. • Occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, squatting, twisting and gripping. • Occasional lifting/carrying and pushing/pulling objects weighing 25-50 lbs. • Rare climbing. REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS State of Work Location: Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin • Basic Life Support HealthCare Provider (BLS HCP) - American Heart Association (AHA) Work Shift: Night Shift (United States of America) Job Type: Employee Department: 3401000046 Laboratory Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40 SSM Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SSM Health provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Click here to learn more.

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