Summary

The Nursing Assistant performs activities of daily living and provides a range of care that contributes to the Veteran's treatment plan - recovery - and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider. This position is located at the Northport VA Medical Center.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• Experience/Education/Training: You may qualify based on your experience - training - and/or education as described below: General Experience: You must possess six (6) months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant
• OR
• Education: One (1) year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation OR
• Training: Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one (1) year as a Nursing Assistant
• Grandfathering Provisions
• All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (2) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-03 Level: Nursing Assistant: Experience or Education
• None beyond basic requirements (see above)
• GS-04 Level: Nursing Assistant: Experience: One (1) year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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 two (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: In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate all of 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
• GS-05 Level: Nursing Assistant: Experience: One (1) 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
• 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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: 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..
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: Beginning to engage in group activities such as off-station trips - reality orientation - current events and other therapeutic groups
• Learning to utilize principles of proper body mechanics and follows procedures for use of patient care equipment to prevent injury to self or others in all settings such as utilization of lifting equipment
• Reports patient observations to the RN and/or other members of the treatment team
• Trained to set up patient care related equipment
• Organizes and obtains routine supplies and equipment
• Assists with orienting patient/family to unit routines and policies
• Works as a cooperative - courteous member of the interdisciplinary team
• Safeguards the patient's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature
• Use proper safety practices
• Utilizes equipment and supplies according to procedures
• Completes all mandatory training within appropriate timelines
• Actively participates in annual competency assessment and validation
• Performing and documenting prescribed medical treatment and interventions for patients - such as diabetic urine testing and blood testing - and simple dressing changes
• Learning to be proficient utilizing rehabilitative principles to promote patient independence and recovery - encouraging and guiding patient/residents in bowel and bladder training
• Engaging in-group activities such as off-station trips - reality orientation - current events and other therapeutic groups with direction and close supervision
• Monitoring patients according to levels of observations i.e
• (one to one suicide - continuous observation - q 15 minute checks - and hourly rounding
• Monitoring Veterans who may be at risk for harming themselves and or others according to established policies and procedures and appropriately refers issues to the charge nurse or other health care professional
• Utilizing principles of proper body mechanics while caring for patients
• Reporting patient status to the RN and documents pertinent observations in the medical record according to established procedures
• The NA utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for Veterans and refers deviation to appropriate health care staff
• Provides direct care for complex Veterans
• Make observations of subtle changes in resident's condition - i.e
• behavior shifts - mood - skin coloring - appetite - etc
• and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role
• Documents care given - observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms
• Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personal
• Administers complete tracheostomy care - including suctioning
• Monitors and documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely and accurately
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran for such procedures but not limited to enemas - catheterization - colostomy care - skin care simple dressing - application of braces and prosthetic devices
• Performing other duties as assigned
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:30 PM - 8:00 AM - with weekends and holidays
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• 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) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• 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.