The Nursing Assistant provides a range of assistance and support for veteran patients, providing personal patient care including Activities of Daily Living, support for diagnostic procedures, performing technical nursing treatments as delegated by Nursing staff and documentation under the guidance of a Registered Nurse. The Nursing Assistant is an integral member of the nursing care team in direct service to veterans and families. 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. b. Experience or Education or Training.(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; 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. 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 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: FORMER VA HANDBOOK 5005 REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G46EFFECTIVE DATE: May 22, 2024 Preferred Experience: Demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities that are directly related to the specific assignment. Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.The full performance level of this vacancy is Grade 05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of Grade 03 to Grade 05. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. ["DUTIES MAY INCLUDE HOWEVER ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING: Supports Diagnostic Procedures a. Assists providers and nurses in the performance of diagnostic examinations by performing duties such as monitoring vital signs, preparing and positioning the patient, or by performing a variety of routine diagnostic tests such as obtaining routine urinalysis, clean catch urines, and stool specimens. Assists with Technical Nursing Treatments a. Assists physicians and nurses in the care and treatment of Residents. Observes and reports to the professional nurse changes in patient behavior, attitude, bodily complaints and appearance. b. Observes Residents for any change in condition (deviation in color, pulse, respiration, temperature and blood pressure) and reports them to the Registered Nurse. c. Reports the condition of wounds and skin and any reaction to or results of treatments.- Direct Resident Care a. Provides a full range of patient care to complex Residents with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems including personal nursing care, support duties and treatments. b. Uses good communication skills in dealing with Residents, some of whom are unusually difficult to care for or communicate with. c. Provides effective action in emergency situations. d. Performs actions targeted to the maintenance/restoration of skin integrity by assisting nurses with turning patients and cleaning patients as needed. e. Assists nurses, preparing Residents for transport to procedures by obtaining oxygen tanks or other needed equipment. f. Complies with universal precaution and with all infection control policies and procedures g. Provides emotional Resident and family care. h. Maintain Resident privacy. i. Responds appropriately to emergency situations j. Assists/completes clerical and transport functions as needed. k. Makes rounds to ensure visual contact, safety and comfort of each Resident.- Indirect Care a. Maintains a safe/clean work environment and completes assigned environmental duties b. Demonstrates appropriate actions in environmental emergency situations. c. Employs appropriate lifting/moving, transfer and assistive devices and demonstrates safe and proper body mechanics. d. Utilizes equipment in a safe manner. e. Reports unsafe equipment and working conditions to appropriate individuals. f. Offers assistance to coworkers when needed. g. Participates in QI activities as directed. h. Practice cost effective measures in the use of supplies and equipment. Enters Information on the Resident's Records/Charts a. Enters specific information onto the patients' records using the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS). b. Enters information regarding the care rendered and the condition and progress of the Resident. c. Performs direct patient support work including personal patient care and/or basic patient education. Personal Resident Care a. Performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing the comfort and spirit of the Resident. b. Takes care of the Residents routine care and comfort needs for psycho/social/spiritual well-being, personal hygiene, physical comfort, nutrition, elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, rehabilitation, safety, etc.- Resident Teaching a. Teaches Resident and family members the necessity to continue the procedures for proper health· care. b. Assists with specific health teaching, such as reminding diabetic patients of the importance for skin care and following a diet, reinforcing the importance of exercise and diet for the cardiac patients, etc.- Environment of Care a. Support professional staff and Residents as needed with maintaining a clean, safe environment of care. b. Cleans bedside tables, stocks linens, cleans wheelchairs and other direct resident care equipment using appropriate precautions- Resident Safety a. Use standard precautions and personal/Resident protective devices b. Recognizes and reports unsafe situations. Initiates appropriate emergency interventions c. Maintains a safe/clean work environment, ensuring Resident privacy d. Participates in unit-based medical center and organizational in-services and continuing education activities e. Adheres to dress-code policy f. Completes all TMS in a timely manner Work Schedule: Full Time"]
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.
