This position is located in Nursing Service, Boise VA Medical Center, Boise, ID. This position provides support to Veterans that are in need of long term and acute care. Nursing students or some nursing assistant experience preferred. 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- One year above high school with courses related to the NA occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant 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. Grade Determinations: GS-3 Nursing Assistant: Experience and Education- None beyond basic requirements. GS-4 Nursing Assistant: One year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or in another medical field; OR Education- 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: 1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. 2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. 3. 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. 4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 Nursing Assistant: One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level; OR Education- 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 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 Vocational 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 NAs by assisting with the 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. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinct speech and manual dexterity. Work requires physical activity including extended periods of standing, walking, and bending with occasional periods of sitting, kneeling, climbing, stooping, crouching, and balancing. Work also requires constant reaching between knee and shoulder level as well as frequent reaching below knee level. Frequent fine motor movement of fingers and wrists as well as gross motor movement of elbows and arms is also required. Incumbents in this position may be exposed to infectious/communicable diseases and blood borne pathogens and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. Incumbents must occasionally be able to independently lift up to 50 pounds and push/pull up to 50 pounds of force with grip strength of 65 pounds. The employee is expected to use proper safe patient handling techniques to perform duties. The incumbent may be exposed to veterans who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on veteran needs. The incumbents will be assigned to specific shifts; however, schedules may include varied days, hours, weekends, overtime, holidays, and emergency call-in. Noise level is usually moderate but could at times be extreme. Work may be fast-paced when dealing with multiple priorities and/or emergency situations. The employee must complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment. ["Duties: Assists in the full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems while meeting their diverse needs based on age, culture, ethnic, spiritual, and war conflict group, in a hospital, long term care or outpatient setting under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or /Licensed Practical Nurse. Contributes to the interdisciplinary team in the development, implementation, and evaluation of the individual Veteran's treatment plan. Implements team decisions, reports outcomes, and participates in evaluation of outcomes. Promotes and participates in unit performance improvement initiatives, identifies problems, collects data, and supports change. Conducts self-assessment for continuous learning and growth seeking out educational opportunities and shares expertise with colleagues. Performs procedures to maintain proper nutrition, airway, circulation, elimination, muscle strength, neurological functions, and promotes AOL/hygiene protocols and documents care provided in the ADL note. Meets the patient's needs for privacy. Ensures that patients are appropriately covered by clothing or bedding. Closes the patient's door, curtains, and blinds to ensure privacy when providing direct patient care. Follows the medical center policy for release of information and respects patient confidentiality. Consistently performs a range of technical procedures including 12 Lead ECGs, blood glucose monitoring, phlebotomy, and straight catheterization per demonstrated competency/certification. Performs a range of therapeutic procedures including wound and skin care, sterile dressings, and wound irrigations, according to procedure. Incorporates Safe Patient Handling techniques into daily practice. This includes but is not limited to SPH Algorithms and the utilization of SPH equipment per policy. Understands and interprets routine instructions without further guidance from the charge nurse. Adapts standard medical techniques to the needs of the individual patient. Follows unit Standard Operating Procedures to include but is not limited to: vital sign monitoring, l & O, death protocol and fall precautions. Assists with transport of non-monitored patients as needed. Daily stocks and makes ready supplies for the care of the patients such as lab and phlebotomy totes, blood glucose caddies, nurse servers, patient rooms, organizes and cleans supply room, organizes and puts back miscellaneous supplies, restocks blanket warmers and maintains temperature log, etc. Work Schedule: Days Vary -11am to 11pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 60771-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
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.
