Nursing Assistant

Summary

The Nursing Assistant is learning to perform basic nursing duties under close supervision in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient - inpatient - home or community living care - acute - sub-acute. The Nursing Assistant will care for patients/residents - dealing with disruptive behavioral 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
• 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)
• GS-5: 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 (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1
• 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 Vocation Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse
• 2
• Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents - families - interdisciplinary team and other personnel
• This includes serving as a preceptor to new nursing assistants by assisting with coordination of their orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting
• 3
• 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
• Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard GS-621 Veterans Health Administration - VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G46.The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-5 Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over)
• Heavy Carrying (45 lbs and over)
• Straight Pulling (6 hours)
• Pushing (6-10 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use fingers
• Both hands required
• Walking (6-10 hours)
• Standing (6-10 hours)
• Kneeling (1 hour)
• Repeated bending (4 hours)
• Both legs required
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16"
• Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other
• Ability to distinguish shades of color
• Hearing (aid permitted)

Duties

• The Nursing Assistant provides care to adult and geriatric Veteran with varying degrees of physical and mental disability
• - Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans - refers deviation to RN
• Provides direct care for complex veterans
• - Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition - i.e. - behavior shifts - mood - skin coloring - appetite - etc
• and acts 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
• -Monitor 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 - colostomy care - -Participates in admissions - transfers - escorting Veterans to appointments and therapies - discharges and contributing to the formulation of Treatment goals
• - Manages distributed patient behavior and by appropriately intervenes and request assistant from other health care members
• Participates in the use of Restraint and Seclusion (R/S) - including proper use of and application of R/S
• 1:1 observation and documentation on the behavioral R/S flow sheet
• release from R/S and QSV/Nursing Service R/S monitor/ review
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday.730am-8pm or 730pm-8am with holiday and weekend rotation
• Work schedule is subject to change based on agency needs
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: FS-53598F

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.