Nursing Assistant

Summary The Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive - acute - sub-acute - chronic - maintenance - and hospice care. The Nursing Assistant performs various representative tasks to provide a variety of personal nursing care - diagnostic support duties - therapeutic treatments - patient charting - and age-specific care. Provides basic customer-focused patient care for a select group of patients. 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 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 3 Experience or Education or Training Six months of general experience Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a Nursing Assistant One year of education above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation OR - Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related training course of study or program of less than on year as Nursing Assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Grandfathering Provisions May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria) Grade Determinations In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates GS-5 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level): 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 KSAs 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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs) In addition - the candidate must demonstrate 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 Nursing Assistant 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 Preferred Experience: 2-5 years of experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant in a inpatient setting Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-5. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity This position requires potentially long periods of continues walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing Transferring patients and objects may be required The Nursing Assistant may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures The Nursing Assistant may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders The Nursing Assistant must be capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Duties Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties include but are not limited to: Provides direct care for complex patients Performs aspects of nursing care to meet patient's needs for the following under close supervision and with direction/guidance from a preceptor: Personal Hygiene (bathing - oral care - hair/nail care - etc Obtains vital signs - including orthostatic vital signs Performs Snellen acuity eye exam Utilizes point-of-care glucometer machine to collect and document appropriate glucose readings for assigned patient Labels specimens for the laboratory Assists the Provider or Nurse with wound dressings (applying and removing bandages) Transports/escorts patients to various areas of the facility (i.e. - Radiology Department - Emergency Department - Medical Surgical Unit - Intensive Care Unit - etc.) via wheelchair or stretcher Cares for patients who require an increased level of patient observation (i.e. - one-to-one - direct line of sight - etc.) Encourages patients to maintain self-care Performs a variety of supporting diagnostic duties which include taking - recording - and reporting to Registered Nurse (RN) pertinent observations Performs a range of treatment duties that may include applying hot and cold packs 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 operating procedures to care for the patient for such procedures - but not limited to enemas - catheterization - colostomy care - skin care - simple dressings - and application of braces and prosthetic devices Assists the Provider or Nurse in a variety of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (i.e. - setting up trays or instruments to be used in examinations) Utilizes techniques in observing and reporting subtle changes in the patient's condition (i.e. - slight change in color - pulse - respiration - temperature or behavior requiring prompt intervention) Recognizes and initiates resuscitative measures in cases of cardiopulmonary arrest - respiratory arrest - or choking Efficiently records patient's information and condition in the computerized patient record system (CPRS) - using established format Maintains a positive therapeutic relationship by displaying respect for human dignity with patients - families and/or significant others utilizing learned communication skills Utilizes principles of proper body mechanics while caring for patients - and follows procedures for use of patient care equipment to prevent injury to self or others in all settings (i.e. - utilization of patient lift and transfer equipment) Sets up patient care related equipment and supplies - and uses appropriately (i.e. - oxygen delivery systems - portable and wall suction - continuous cardiac/blood pressure/pulse oximetry monitoring - etc.) Performs 12-lead electrocardiograms with proper lead placement 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 Uses proper safety practices Provides and maintains an environment that is clean - safe - and free of unnecessary clutter and noise Actively participates in treatment planning meetings Serves as a preceptor and mentor to other NAs Orients members of the health care team to the unit as appropriate Work Schedule: 7:30am to 8:00pm (12 hours and flexible hours - including weekends) Work schedule subject to change based on the agency needs Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized 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) 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 Available Functional Statement #: 60423F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized #J-18808-Ljbffr U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs