Nursing Assistant

Summary

This position is for a Nursing Assistant on a 15-bed locked inpatient Mental Health Unit serving Veterans with psychiatric needs and medical comorbidities. Experience is preferred but not required. BLS and PMDB certifications are required and provided by the hospital.

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:

• US Citizenship is required
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3.g.)
• ENGLISH: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Education or Training: 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 NA
• OR - One (1) year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR - Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related [training]course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meeting full the experience requirements for GS-3. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE - YOU MUST MEET THE GRADE REQUIREMENTS AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GRADE LEVELS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION
• GS - 03: Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised
• Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS - 04: Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised
• Experience: One 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 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: 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: This is the full performance level for NAs
• 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
• 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: 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
• NOTE: Students/trainees may be appointed in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D)
• See Part II - Chapter 3 - paragraph 5 of VA Handbook 5005
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005 REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G46 EFFECTIVE DATE: May 22 - 2024
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5. Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - and sitting
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing
• 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 comply with any Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment
• In the performance of duties - the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles
• Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4 - 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee
• Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior work experience or military service experience
• This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave
• Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed
• During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions
• Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement - nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions
• This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies
• This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status
• VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply
• The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38 - and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority
• If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents - please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act - the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer
• For more information about the Act and the complaint process - visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations - Security - and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Duties

• Major Duties: Assists with/performs under the direct supervision of the recreation/occupational/physical therapist therapeutic and diversion activities for patients
• Obtains blood pressure - pulse - respiration - and blood glucose (finger stick) and records them appropriately in the medical record
• Is able to distinguish significant variances in vital signs and finger sticks and reports them to the responsible RN
• Assist or provide patients with personal hygiene - i.e. - bathing - shaving - teeth brushing - nail care - hair combing - etc
• Provide patients with the appropriate level of assistance with activities of daily living - bathing - dressing - transferring - ambulating - feeding - and toileting
• Weighs patients and records them appropriately in the medical record
• Is knowledgeable about variances in weights and reports significant variances in weights to responsible RN
• Answers call lights promptly and in person
• Assists during emergency treatment situations obtaining equipment as necessary and running errands as needed
• Assists in emergency situations including - but not limited to CPR as needed
• Assists the nurse/MD/NP during procedures/treatments as needed following appropriate standards and guidelines
• Completes alt required Nursing Assistant initial and annual competency requirements
• Assists the team in reinforcing educational needs with patients
• Consistently follows the Plan of Care for each patient
• Perform one to one observation as assigned
• Maintains positive and constructive professional working relationships with patients - families - medical staff - volunteers - and co-workers
• Transport patients as assigned off the unit for various diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
• Follow all infection control procedures
• Other duties as assigned
• Communication Duties: Consistently reports to the team leader/licensed staff observations of the patient's physical condition and behavior
• Participates with the nursing team to provide input in the formulation and implementation of the care plan
• Records appropriately in the medical record
• Consistently addresses the patient
• family - and staff with respect and dignity
• Will report any suspected abuse to the appropriate licensed nurse (charge nurse - supervisor - manager)
• May attend interdisciplinary conferences as needed for the purpose of reporting observations of resident (patient) behavior or care
• Other Assigned Responsibilities: Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files
• activating printers
• .inserting and deleting text formatting letters. - reports - and memoranda
• and transmitting and receiving e-mail
• Uses various programs to access information in the Medical Center Computer System to include - but not limited to - the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) and the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS)
• Follows established Medical Center - Division and Extended Care Center Program policies and procedures - rules and regulations - related to fire - disaster - security measures - computer security - and universal fluid precautions
• Completes all required education requirements in a timely manner
• Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Full time - Part time - Intermittent Sunday-Monday different shifts
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - higher or unique qualifications - or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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