Medical Lab Scientist (MLS/MT) – Traveler | Weekend Nights
Facility: Pagosa Springs Medical Center
Location: Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Department: Laboratory
Start Date: ASAP
Assignment Length: 13 weeks, initial assignment
Shift: Weekend Nights, Friday through Sunday
Schedule: 6:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m.
Weekly Hours: 36 hours/week
Overtime: After 40 hours/week at 1.5x
Hourly Rate: $70/hour, all-inclusive
On-Call: Not required
Holidays: May be required if the holiday falls within scheduled shift
Position Summary
Pagosa Springs Medical Center is seeking an experienced Medical Lab Scientist, MLS/MT, traveler for a weekend night shift assignment in our Laboratory Department.
This position requires a highly experienced, independent, and confident lab generalist who can work weekend night shifts with minimal supervision in a Critical Access Hospital setting. The traveler must be able to independently manage laboratory workflow, prioritize testing needs, perform quality control and maintenance, troubleshoot instrumentation, and provide accurate and timely results to support patient care.
This is not an appropriate assignment for a new graduate, first-time traveler, or candidate who requires extensive hands-on support after orientation. The selected traveler must have prior travel assignment experience, recent hospital-based generalist experience, and recent hands-on experience with the QuidelOrtho Vitros 7600 and/or Vitros 5600.
This role performs a broad range of laboratory testing across multiple disciplines, including hematology, chemistry, microbiology, blood bank, urinalysis, coagulation, and serology. The ideal candidate will have strong recent hospital-based generalist experience and previous experience working independently in a rural or critical access hospital environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform routine and complex laboratory testing across all core lab departments.
- Analyze, verify, and report test results, including critical values.
- Prioritize testing and workflow appropriately during weekend night shifts.
- Perform phlebotomy and specimen processing as needed.
- Maintain, operate, and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation.
- Perform and document quality control, calibrations, maintenance, and corrective actions.
- Utilize the Laboratory Information System and Cerner EHR for documentation and reporting.
- Communicate effectively with Emergency Department providers, nursing staff, and other clinical team members.
- Support urgent and emergent testing needs, including blood bank needs, in a timely and accurate manner.
- Maintain compliance with regulatory, safety, quality, and patient care standards.
- Work independently during weekend night coverage after standard traveler orientation.
Requirements
Education
- Degree in Medical Laboratory Science or related field with completed clinical training required.
Experience
- Minimum of five years of recent hospital laboratory experience strongly preferred.
- Strong recent generalist experience required.
- Previous successful travel assignment experience required.
- First-time travelers will not be considered for this assignment.
- New graduates will not be considered for this assignment.
- Previous independent night shift or weekend shift experience required.
- Candidate must be capable of working nights independently with minimal supervision.
- Previous Critical Access Hospital or rural hospital experience strongly preferred.
- Recent hands-on experience with the QuidelOrtho Vitros 7600 and/or Vitros 5600 required.
- QuidelOrtho Vitros 7600 experience strongly preferred.
- Cerner EHR experience required.
Certifications
- ASCP MLS/MT or AMT certification required.
- AHA BLS certification required.
Skills
- Must be able to work independently on weekend night shift.
- Must be confident functioning as the primary lab resource during weekend night coverage.
- Strong critical thinking, prioritization, and problem-solving skills required.
- Ability to retain information, follow established workflows, and manage competing priorities.
- Experience across multiple lab disciplines required.
- Must be comfortable supporting Emergency Department and inpatient needs in a rural hospital setting.
- Must be able to communicate clearly and professionally with providers, nursing staff, and laboratory leadership.
- Must be able to perform and document quality control, maintenance, troubleshooting, and corrective actions accurately and consistently.
- Must be able to maintain timely and accurate workflow during weekend night coverage.
Additional Information
- Traveler must be comfortable working independently after standard traveler orientation.
- This assignment requires a traveler who can function independently without the need for ongoing additional staffing support.
- Candidate must have previous travel experience; this cannot be the traveler’s first travel assignment.
- Candidate must have recent experience with the Vitros 7600 and/or Vitros 5600.
- Floating within scope may be required, including phlebotomy and specimen processing.
- Candidate must be able to adapt to a rural healthcare environment.
- Candidate must be able to support urgent and emergent testing needs in a timely, accurate, and professional manner.
About the Facility
Pagosa Springs Medical Center is a Critical Access Hospital located in southwest Colorado, serving a rural mountain community. The facility provides emergency, inpatient, outpatient, surgical, diagnostic, and specialty services in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
Job Start Date: 06/17/2026
Shift Information: Weekend Night Shift: Friday-Sunday, 6:00 p.m. - 6:00 a.m.
