Career Center

Summary

The Nursing Assistant will provide a range of assistance and support for veteran patients by providing personal patient care - support for diagnostic procedures - performing technical nursing treatments as delegated by Nursing staff - appropriate documentation and offering basic patient instruction under the guidance of a Registered Nurse. The Nursing Assistant is an integral member of the nursing care team in direct service to veterans and families.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• [NAs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Education or Training
• One year above high school with courses related to the [NA] occupation
• Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related course of study of less than one year [ ] as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Grade Determinations: Nursing Assistant - GS-3 Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• Nursing Assistant - GS-4 Experience
• One year of specialized experience as a [NA] or experience in another medical field (licensed practical nurse - health technician - hospital corpsman - etc.) - performing technical and nursing skills requiring knowledge of the human physical and emotional states - therapeutic communication - and technical skills required for basic and intermediate treatments
• OR Education
• Successful completion of 2 years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care - health care or in a field of study appropriate to the specialization of the position - such as education in a program for psychology - psychiatric - or operating room technicians
• AND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents
• Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner
• Ability to properly use equipment - materials and supplies in simple diagnostic and treatment procedures such as bladder scan - continuous passive motion device - blood glucose monitoring machine - specimen collection - etc
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionals
• Nursing Assistant - GS-5 Experience
• One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge - skills - and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the professional KS As in subparagraph ( c) below
• OR Education
• Successful completion of a 4-year course of study above high school leading to a bachelor's degree that included 24 semester hours of courses related to health care or possession of a bachelor's degree
• AND Demonstrated KSA's
• Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a hospital - long term care or outpatient setting under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Vocational Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse
• Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents - families - interdisciplinary team and other personnel
• This includes serving as a preceptor to new [NAs] by assisting with the coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting
• Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance
• For example - recognizing need for basic life support - controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis - etc
• References: https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Preferred Experience: 6 Months to 1 Year preferred - CNA Experience - Nursing assistant - Healthcare experience - ADL Support Care - Hospice Care - Skilled - Long term care
• The full performance level of this vacancy is 5
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 3 to 5
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations - operative/invasive procedures - or home settings
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• The incumbent who provides care in home settings or other off-site locations may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• Supports Diagnostic Procedures Assists physicians and nurses in the performance of diagnostic examinations by performing duties such as monitoring vital signs - preparing - and positioning the patient - or by performing a variety of routine diagnostic tests such as glucometer test for blood glucose level - collection of urine sample - etc
• Assists with Technical Nursing Treatments Assists physicians and nurses in the care and treatment of veteran patients receiving medical - surgical - or skilled longer-term treatment
• Observes and reports to the professional nurse changes in patient behavior - attitude - bodily complaints - and appearance
• Observes patients for any change in condition (deviation in color - pulse - respiration - temperature - and blood pressure) and reports them to the Registered Nurse
• Reports the condition of wounds and skin and any reaction to or results of treatments
• Direct Patient Care Provides a full range of patient care to complex patients with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems including personal nursing care - support duties and treatments
• Uses good communication skills in dealing with patients - some of whom are unusually difficult to care for or communicate with
• Provides effective action in emergency situations
• Performs actions targeted to the maintenance/restoration of skin integrity by assisting nurses with turning patients and cleaning patients as needed
• Assists nurses - preparing patients for transport to procedures by obtaining oxygen tanks or other needed equipment
• Complies with universal precaution and with all infection control policies and procedures Provides emotional patient and family care
• Maintain patient privacy
• Responds appropriately to emergency situations Assists/completes clerical and transport functions as needed
• Makes rounds to ensure visual contact - safety and comfort of each patient
• Indirect Care Maintains a safe/clean work environment and completes assigned environmental duties Demonstrates appropriate actions in environmental emergency situations
• Employs appropriate lifting/moving - transfer and assistive devices and demonstrates safe and proper body mechanics
• Utilizes equipment in a safe manner
• Reports unsafe equipment and working conditions to appropriate individuals
• Offers assistance to coworkers when needed
• Participates in QI activities as directed
• Practice cost effective measures in the use of supplies and equipment
• Enters Information on the Patients' Records/Charts Enters specific information onto the patients' records using the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS)
• Enters information regarding the care rendered and the condition and progress of the patient
• Performs direct patient support work including personal patient care and/or basic patient education
• Personal Patient Care Performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing the comfort and spirit of the patient
• Takes care of patients' routine care and comfort needs for psycho/social/spiritual well-being - personal hygiene - physical comfort - nutrition - elimination - prevention of skin breakdown - rehabilitation - safety - etc
• Patient Teaching Teaches patients and family members the necessity to continue the procedures for proper health care
• Assists with specific health teaching - such as reminding diabetic patients of the importance for skin care and following a diet - reinforcing the importance of exercise and diet for the cardiac patients - etc
• Environment of Care Support professional staff and veterans as needed with maintaining a clean - safe environment of care
• Cleans bedside tables - stocks linens - cleans wheelchairs and other direct resident care equipment using appropriate precautions
• Patient Safety Use standard precautions and personal/patient protective devices Recognizes and reports unsafe situations
• Initiates appropriate emergency interventions Maintains a safe/clean work environment - ensuring patient privacy Participates in unit-based medical center and organizational in-services and continuing education activities Adheres to dress-code policy Work Schedule: Primarily Nights - Alternating Weekends and Holidays
• Compressed/Flexible: Depending on Schedule Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 52384-A - 52385-A - 52386-A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized