This vacancy will remain open until filled. The first cut-off date is 12/11/2024. Additional applications will be referred as needed. The Float Pool Nursing Assistant is accountable to the Nurse Manager and/or Assistant Nurse Manager within Nursing Services. The Nursing Assistant will function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. 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. 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 NA; OR, One 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 meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. 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 3j. 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: Nursing Assistant, GS-03 (Entry Level): Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 Nursing Assistants are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. Nursing Assistant, GS-04: 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 (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. Assignment Individuals assigned as GS-4 Nursing Assistants are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. Nursing Assistants at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded Nursing Assistants, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded Nursing Assistants or other healthcare professionals. In this role, the Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded Nursing Assistant, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care, or other patients who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The Nursing Assistant in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded Nursing Assistant, or other healthcare professionals. Nursing Assistant, GS-05 (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. 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 KSAs. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following professional 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 Assistants 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. Assignment. This is the full performance level for Nursing Assistants. Nursing Assistants at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub-acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. Nursing Assistants at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role. Preferred Experience: Certification Six months to one year experience Long-term care, rehabilitation, hospice, dementia experience Hands-on experience at bedside/patient care 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: Moderate lifting/carrying (15-44lbs), straight pulling/pushing (1 hour), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (6 hours), standing (3 hours), kneeling (.5 hours), repeated bending (1 hour), depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted) ["Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties of the position include but are not limited to: providing direct care for complex Veterans, making observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e., behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc. Documents care given, observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms; Performing 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, and monitoring; working on small group activities with veterans/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan; recognizing the residents' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting and individualized treatment; obtaining vital signs, documents in CPRS and reports deviations to appropriate RN; obtaining Intake and Outputs appropriately (oral intake, IV pump, feeding pump, Foley catheter, urinal, drains, etc.) and reports; gathering information about patient condition and communicates to RN to develop specific plan of care for patient; recognizing subtle changes in the patient's condition, behavior and/or comfort. Reports observations and interventions to RN; providing environmental safety, security, infection control and patient privacy; performing and documenting Q2 hour rounding/turning; verbalizing and demonstrating process for obtaining lab specimens, proper labeling, and immediate transport; recognizing and responding to impaired airway-notifying RN; providing oxygen as ordered or as RN instructs using the appropriate equipment; providing care for & management of patient with chest tubes; performing 12-Lead ECG with correct lead placement; verbalizing and demonstrating the process for retrieval and placement of the telemetry unit; obtaining urine output (i.e., bladder scan, I&O documentation, etc.) and reports finding to appropriate RN; providing Foley catheter care each shift, daily or as needed; verbalizing process in notifying RN regarding changes in patient skin status; verbalizing rationale when performing Q2 hour rounding/turning requirements. Work Schedule: 7:30am - 8:00pm, compressed rotating schedule Compressed/Flexible: Available 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 Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 504-52677-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized This is a bargaining unit position."]
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.
