Location: Chicago, Illinois
Business Unit: Rush Medical Center
Hospital: Rush University Medical Center
Department: RML General Microbiology
**Work Type:** Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)
**Shift:** Shift 1
**Work Schedule:** 8 Hr (7:00AM - 3:30PM)
Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (
**Pay Range:** $34.89 - $50.63 per hour
Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rushs anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.
**Summary:**
This position is responsible for performing all assigned laboratory testing and reporting for the testing area. This position requires teamwork to achieve common goals and meet deadlines to provide quality care to clients and patients. Demonstrates proficiency in identifying and resolving process issues that affect the laboratory's ability to perform laboratory testing. Serves as an expert within the assigned field of responsibility. Instructs students, residents, and new employees. Evaluates their performance within established deadlines. Participates in presenting case studies or in-services. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures. Must adhere to the Rush code of Conduct and Rush ICARE values: Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Excellence, executing these values with compassion.
**Required Job Qualifications:**
**Education:** Bachelors degree in relevant science required, Master of Science degree in relevant discipline preferred.
Certification from nationally recognized certifying agency required. Some laboratory disciplines may require more stringent certification criteria.
Certification from nationally recognized certifying agency required. Some laboratory disciplines may require more stringent certification criteria.
Acceptable credentials (can vary depending on the laboratory section):
Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) via the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP)
Medical Technologist (MT) via the American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Blood Bank (BB) via the ASCP
Chemistry (C) via the ASCP
Cytogenetics (CG) via the ASCP
Cytotechnologist (CT) via the ASCP
Hematology (H) via the ASCP
Microbiology (M) via the ASCP
Molecular Biology (MB) via the ASCP
Specialty in Cytometry (SCYM) via the ASCP
Technologist in HLA (CHT) or Specialist in HLA (CHS) via ACHI
**Experience:** Minimum of five years of high-complexity clinical laboratory-related experience required. Some lab divisions may require more.
**Affective behavior:** Interacts effectively and respectfully with everyone encountered at the medical center.
**Preferred Job Qualifications:**
Master of Science degree in relevant discipline preferred.
CLIA QUALIFICATION FOR TESTING:
Employees in this job classification are qualified to perform moderate and high complexity testing. Employees' education and/or laboratory experience meet the requirements delineated in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment of 1996.
**Physical Demands:**
Able to work in fast pace, often stressful, computerized environment. Able to lift 20 pounds and perform repetitive motions. Works in laboratory with exposure to potentially infectious and hazardous materials.
**Responsibilities:**
Administrative and Advanced Technical Duties
Demonstrates proficiency in all duties as defined in the role of Medical Technologist II.
Serves as an expert within the assigned field of responsibility.
Instructs students, residents, and new employees. Evaluate their performance within established deadlines.
Participates in presenting case studies or in-services.
Recognizes QC problems, shifts drifts, or discrepancies, determines root cause and can resolve. Notifies the appropriate supervisor or designee regarding QC problems or discrepancies according to the established procedure. Easily determines when escalation is needed.
Required to oversee and maintain a clean, clutter-free and well-organized area of responsibility.
Required to prepare and present one inter-laboratory continuing education presentation per year.
Participates in, prepares, and presents quality improvement initiatives accomplished in the laboratory.
**Will be responsible for any combination of the following:**
Inventory management
Key facilitator for an instrument or workflow process
Quality or Safety Officer
Mentoring and training MLS1 and MLS2
Assist in inspection preparation
**Joh Components:**
Performs Laboratory Testing
Utilizes required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as defined by the lab area. Labels and processes specimens properly. Performs all laboratory procedures efficiently and effectively and serves as a technical expert for other laboratory staff. Ensures all testing is performed following Rush approved Policies and Procedures.
Quality Control and Preventative Maintenance
Performs required quality control (QC) procedures and preventative maintenance, including corrective action and documentation, for all procedures and instrumentation. Recognizes QC problems, shifts, drifts, or discrepancies, determines root cause, and can resolve them. Notifies the appropriate supervisor or designee regarding QC problems or discrepancies according to the established procedure. Easily determines when escalation is needed.
Troubleshooting
Performs basic and advanced troubleshooting of equipment and processes with minimal assistance, documents action, and notifies appropriate personnel, for example, supervisors, of problems all of the time. Demonstrates troubleshooting proficiency and therefore rarely needs to seek additional help.
Organization of Work Area
Keeps work area neat, clean, organized, and well-stocked at all times. Disinfect area at the beginning and end of each shift. Required to oversee and maintain a clean, clutter free and well-organized area of responsibility.
Specimen Acceptability
Accepts no inappropriate specimens. Notifies the appropriate person of specimens that must be drawn or collected again and documents the notification.
Turnaround Time Expectations
Meets turnaround time expectations by prioritizing and organizing the workload for the shift. Monitors the pending list periodically to ensure the turnaround time of all samples.
Time Management
Utilizes time effectively and seeks out additional job duties when shift tasks are complete. Completes work without incurring overtime. Assists fellow workers in finishing shift tasks. Adheres to the defined allotted time for breaks and lunch.
Continuing Education
Required to obtain and document 12 hours of laboratory continuing education per year. Required to prepare and present a minimum of 15 minutes of continuing education within the department. Required to prepare and present one inter-laboratory continuing education presentation per year. Prepares and presents quality improvement initiatives accomplished in the laboratory.
Special Projects
Accepts and/or volunteers for method evaluations and new procedure development or other special projects and completes them within an agreed-upon time frame. Participates in procedure implementation and training of new staff and students. Required to identify, participate, and lead in process improvement projects.
Tech-in-Charge
Required to perform the duties of the tech-in-charge for specified periods. Oversees operations according to departmental guidelines. Understands when to defer issues to appropriate personnel, for example, a supervisor or director, and does so.
Report Reviewing and Results Reporting
Reviews lab results as required and takes appropriate action before verification and release. Recognizes and calls critical results within defined time frames. Reviews paper-generated results and transcribes them accurately into the Lab Information System. Review of others' results.
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements.
Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
**Position** Medical Laboratory Scientist 3
**Location** US:IL:Chicago
**Req ID** 20409
Job ID: 488291066
Originally Posted on: 8/6/2025
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