Nursing Assistant (Long Term Care)

Summary

The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists licensed nursing staff in care of patients / residents receiving preventive - acute - sub-acute - chronic - maintenance and hospice care. Nursing Assistant duties are performed in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient - inpatient - home - community living care - acute - sub-acute. The Nursing Assistant will care for patients / residents with acute to chronic conditions.

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
• Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3 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)
• (1) Six months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA
• OR (2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• (Must Include Transcript) OR (3) Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related [training] course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3 (Must Include Certification Information) Grade Determinations: GS 3 None beyond basic requirements 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 (b) 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 (c) 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
• 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 KSAs in subparagraph (c) below
• OR (b) 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 (c) Demonstrated 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 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: This position requires visuaI acuity - keen hearing - cIear distinctive speech and manuaI dexterity
• This position requires potentiaIly Iong periods of continued waIking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulIing - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materiaIs and may be required to don protective cIothing in isoIation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionalIy be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to deIirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - fIexibIe - and sensibIe individuaI capabIe of working effectiveIy in stressfuI situations - abIe to shift priorities based on patient needs
• The NA must compIete annuaI empIoyee heaIth requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of empIoyment
• These physicaI requirements wiIl be consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019

Duties

• Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties: Maintaining a positive therapeutic relationship by displaying respect for human dignity with patient - families and/or significant other utilizing communication skills
• Utilize observation skills for data collection - reporting and recording
• Participate in patient centered conferences/shift reports and contributing information for the development and review of the nursing care plan
• Competent with performing aspects of nursing care to meet patient/resident needs for: Personal Hygiene Physical comfort Activity - exercise - rest Nutrition Elimination Prevention of skin breakdown Rehabilitative aspects of care Utilizes principles of proper body mechanics while caring for patients Monitors veterans who may be at risk for harming themselves and/or others according to established policies and procedures and appropriately refers the issues to the charge nurse or other health care professional Documents care given - observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for veteran
• Utilizes equipment to promote veteran self care such
• Respond appropriately to subtle patient changes Organizes and obtains routine supplies - equipment Safeguarding patients right to privacy and protecting of patients information Other duties as assigned Work Schedule: Full Time - Day/Night - Some weekends/holidays Compressed/Flexible: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of 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 byVA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 10712-F - 10714-F - 10713-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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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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