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Specimen Processor (per diem)

Sauk Prairie Healthcare · Prairie du Sac, WI · Variable time

Posted Sep 8, 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

Tell me about a time you had a hard stick or a patient who fainted. How did you handle it?

What they are checking: Calm, safe handling of difficult draws and patient reactions, including knowing when to stop and get help.

As a per diem employee, how do you keep your skills and knowledge of procedures current between shifts?

What they are checking: Reliability and self-directed learning in a role where shifts may be spread out.

What would you do

A specimen arrives at the lab unlabeled. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they refuse to guess and follow rejection and recollection policy even when it is inconvenient.

The phone is ringing, a patient is waiting to be drawn and a batch needs to ship. How do you juggle it?

What they are checking: Prioritization across clerical and clinical duties while keeping patient care first.

About the work

Walk me through how you identify a patient before a draw and label the tubes afterward.

What they are checking: Whether they follow two-identifier and bedside labeling rules, since mislabeled specimens can lead to wrong treatment or transfusion.

What is the order of draw, and why does it matter?

What they are checking: Whether they understand additive carryover between tubes, which can quietly ruin test results.

How do you approach drawing blood from a newborn or a scared young child?

What they are checking: Skill and patience with capillary punctures and pediatric patients, which the posting names directly.

How do you collect a DOT urine drug screen, and what would make you stop or redo a collection?

What they are checking: Knowledge of chain of custody and DOT rules, where mistakes can invalidate a test with legal consequences.

How do you prepare and package specimens being sent to a reference lab?

What they are checking: Attention to processing, temperature and paperwork requirements so samples arrive usable.

What CLIA-waived or moderately complex tests have you run, and how do you handle quality control?

What they are checking: Whether they treat QC as required before reporting results, not as an optional step.

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The full job description

As published by Sauk Prairie Healthcare.

Looking to be part of a team that provides extraordinary healthcare from the heart? You Belong Here. POSITION SPECIFICS Title: Specimen Processor FTE: 0.0 FTE (Per diem) Schedule: Varies Holiday Rotation: Occasional Weekend Rotation: Occasional On Call Requirements: None POSITION SUMMARY Performs venipuncture and capillary punctures to procure specimens for laboratory analysis. Serves patients of all ages from newborn through geriatric. Performs clerical functions such as filing, word processing, answering telephones, faxing results, scheduling, and preparing specimens to be sent to reference laboratories. Performs urine toxicology and alcohol collections according to DOT guidelines. Maintains toxicology and laboratory supplies. Performs CLIA-waived and moderately complex testing. Maintains billing and coding for laboratory procedures. POSITION TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITIES Specimen Collection • Listen attentively, communicate effectively, and meet patient’s needs by answering their questions in order to promote a positive relationship. • Identify patient following the proper patient identification procedures. • Collect and identify specimens for transfusion service testing. • Direct patients to blood drawing area and restroom in order to obtain the ordered sample. • Receive specimens delivered to the lab and directly from patients to perform requested lab tests. Documents specimen collection information correctly on all specimen records. • Perform CLIA waved and moderately complex testing within the scope of the clinic testing menu. • Demonstrate competence and works independently in essential phlebotomy procedures sufficient to perform at a satisfactory level without supervision. • Inquire about patient status, including fasting and time of last medication when collecting specimen. • Perform venipunctures, finger sticks, heel sticks, blood culture collections to obtain a blood sample for ordered tests. Patient collection settings may include hospital inpatients and outpatients, nursing home residents, pediatric and newborn patients, and emergency and trauma room patients. • Use good clinical judgment in the selection of the puncture site appropriate for the age of the patient. • Distribute proper specimen containers and instructs patients on collection of random and 24-hour samples. • Administer Trutol glucose beverage and collects specimens of blood and urine from patients. • Teach Technical and University students in phlebotomy techniques. • Coordinate specimen collection procedures. • Perform Urine/Blood non-DOT and DOT drug screen collections. • Process paperwork for non-DOT and DOT drug screen collections, including faxing MRO copies and mailing employer copies. • Maintain adequate supplies, collection containers and Chain of Custody forms for urine drug screen collections. • Verify specimen requirements for all laboratory tests including reference laboratory tests. Ability to relay detailed specimen collection information to appropriate personnel. • Process samples per specimen collection/processing procedures. • Process collected specimen for distribution to the appropriate lab personnel for testing. Communicates special testing requirements to testing personnel (i.e. STAT specimen, Fax results, etc.). • Perform Specimen Processing troubleshooting as needed. Alerts Laboratory Director or Hospital Laboratory Liaison about situations where further assistance is needed. • Ensure that all blood drawing trays are kept stocked with appropriate blood drawing supplies. • Assist leadership in other duties as needed as proficiency in other areas of laboratory testing is demonstrated. Administrative Duties • Answer the phone promptly and courteously. • Greet and provide services to all patients and visitors to the department. • Answer phone inquiries regarding Laboratory Test results and refer specific test procedure questions to Laboratory Director or Hospital Laboratory Liaison. Transfers calls in order to assure department efficiency. • Accurately enters test orders into the lab information system (LIS) including diagnosis codes. Files the orders appropriately. • Verify and resolve test orders that seem inappropriate. • Look up patient test results in LIS. Prints, reprints, or faxes results as necessary. Sends test results to Physicians via the appropriate method. File copies of test results, authorization forms and test orders. Processes paperwork with attention to detail, completing tasks with accuracy and precision. • Must be able to follow detailed directions and to follow direction of leadership. • Release patient test information only to a physician or clinical staff or as directed on the physician order, in accordance with HIPAA. • Telephone and fax verified laboratory reports as they become available. • Type reports, letters, memos, policies and procedures at the direction of the leadership. • Maintain inventory of department supplies and orders supplies as needed. • Coordinate paperwork for reference labs including charges and pathology charges for procedures. • Perform cleaning of phlebotomy trays, work areas, centrifuges, counters in order to meet safety and OSHA requirements. Documents on maintenance logs. • Maintain strict confidentiality. • Create and download reference laboratory results online. • Obtain patient information in order to complete service record. • Check reference laboratory bills for accuracy. • Promote and contribute to a safe workplace by abiding by all regulations and policies and by reporting unsafe work practices and/or physical conditions to departmental director. • Attend staffing meetings, in-services, and/or reads technical journals in order to remain current on technical procedures, lab policies, compliance with safety, and quality assurance. • Perform other duties as assigned. POSITION REQUIREMENTS Education: • Required: High school diploma or equivalent within 1 year of hire. • Preferred: None Experience: • Required: None • Preferred: Minimum of one-year phlebotomy and medical terminology experience in a healthcare setting. Licenses and Registrations: • Required: None • Preferred: None Certification(s): • Required: None • Preferred: Certification as a Phlebotomy Technician (or equivalent) by a national accrediting agency preferred. BENEFIT SUMMARY • Competitive health and dental insurance options • Flexible paid time off to balance work and life • Retirement plan with immediate vesting and employer match • Discounted membership to our state-of-the-art fitness facility • Generous tuition reimbursement • Employer provided life and disability insurance • Free parking at facility #IND100

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