Lab Assistant

Job Title: Lab Assistant

Location: Newark Beth Israel Medical Ctr

Department Name: Lab NBI

Req #: 0000248332

Status: Hourly

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $21.40 - $25.47 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.

Job Overview
The Lab Assistant performs essential technical duties related to the preparation, triage, and examination of surgical and autopsy specimens for final pathologist review. This critical role leads workflows within the grossing room and morgue, executing both routine and highly complex clinical procedures while providing key technical assistance for frozen sections and specialized stains. Operating with a high degree of independence, the Lab Assistant ensures full operational compliance with stringent regulatory standards, assists with medical conference preparations, and coordinates interdepartmental safety orientations.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor of Science (BS) or Master of Science (MS) degree in Biology.
• Professional experience matching the guidelines mandated by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) in the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) of 1988 alongside New Jersey Department of Health (NJDH) requirements for a general supervisor.
• Active certification by a category one agency (ASCP, NCA, AMT, HHS/HEW) OR documented certification eligibility.
• Advanced logical reasoning ability and the capacity to independently organize complex workloads to meet strict laboratory deadlines.
• Flexibility and willingness to work rotating weekends and holidays as clinically required.

Preferred:

• Prior experience with specialized laboratory information networks and specimen logging databases (e.g., CoPath system tracking).
• Advanced background handling complex, high-priority surgical pathology cases and implementing specific preservation or fixative techniques.

Scheduling Requirements

• Full-Time (FT)
• Day

Essential Functions

• Conducts macro/gross examinations and triages incoming specimens based on clinical urgency, disease classification, and overall priority.
• Provides comprehensive technical support in the grossing room, including the execution of frozen section techniques, preparation of special stains, and managing the intake of complex surgical pathology cases.
• Prepares the morgue and sets up the autopsy room for post-mortem examinations, ensuring proper table preparation, instrumentation layout, and the labeling of formalin containers.
• Manages morgue administrative compliance tasks, including maintaining the daily deceased body log, recording refrigerator temperatures, checking emergency eye-wash stations, and coordinates cleanup/disinfection.
• Logs, accessions, and tracks surgical and autopsy specimens utilizing designated laboratory information software (e.g., CoPath records).
• Logs and captures detailed photographic documentation of pertinent surgical specimens and autopsy findings to present at weekly conferences, Tumor Boards, and Grand Rounds.
• Audits and maintains the technical policy and procedure manuals for the section to guarantee continuous alignment with state, federal, and hospital accreditation requirements.
• Leads cross-functional nursing orientations to educate clinical teams on the proper collection, labeling, and transfer methods for sending specimens to the pathology department.
• Ensures strict compliance with universal precautions, infection control policies, fire/safety guidelines, and hazardous waste disposal procedures.
• Manages daily laboratory maintenance, loading blocks into tissue processors at the end of the shift, archiving specimen containers, and safely discarding outdated surgical samples.

Benefits and Perks
At RWJBarnabas Health, our employees are at the heart of everything we do. Driven by our Total Wellbeing promise, our market-competitive offerings include comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees' physical, emotional, financial, personal, career, and community wellbeing. These benefits and resources include, but are not limited to:

• Paid Time Off including Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Time
• Retirement Plans
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Disability and Life Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Student Loan Planning Support
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
• Community and Volunteer Opportunities
• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, and Verizon
• ....and more!

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.