Summary

The incumbent of this position serves as a Nursing Assistant (NA) with the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center within the Community Living Center (CLC). The primary purpose of this position is to perform a very wide range of patient personal care, treatment, and charting activities on a regular and continuing basis on a rehabilitation, short-term and long-term care ward. The incumbent performs duties in such a way as to promote a sense of worth and. dignity for the individual.

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:

• Citizenship: Citizen of the United States
• Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Experience, 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. 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 (Entry Level): (a) Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4: (a) 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 (Full Performance Level): (a) 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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
• Preferred Experience: One year of nursing assistant experience
• 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: Heavy lifting and carrying, strait pulling, pulling hand over hand, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers and both hands/legs/eyes (limb prosthesis allowed if functionally equivalent), walking and standing, crawling and kneeling, repeated bending, climbing, hearing (aid permitted), ability to perform PMDB and BLS, patient lifting (mechanical assistance available), emotional and mental stability, ability to read medication labels and equipment manuals, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

Duties

• 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 Functions and Responsibilities: Performs a complete range of treatment procedures such as routine urinary catheter care
• including external catheter placements
• application of cold and heat
• changing simple dressings
• and irrigation of a healed colostomy
• Additionally, performs selected treatments such as foot-soaks
• performs basic care for patients requiring the use of isolation techniques
• Recognizes life-threatening situations and initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation as needed
• Alerts the nurse to changes in the patient's condition and assists in emergency treatment
• Participates in nursing care conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings, using good judgment in identifying and reporting patient problems, planning individual care, and discharge planning
• Suggests feasible means to meet patient needs
• Provides comfort care and hygiene to patients to include bathing, hair and nail care, oral hygiene, and skin care
• Positions patients for comfort and therapy
• Assists with feeding and maintains a safe, clean, pleasant patient environment
• Assists patients in walking, moving, and changing position by supporting and turning them
• Accompanies patients to other areas of the hospital
• Takes vital signs
• i.e., blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate and temperature, measures height and weight, and measures intake and output
• Carries out specified procedures such as irrigations, care of drainage tubes, suctioning, and administration of oxygen
• Knowledge and ability to perform restorative functions
• Changes or assists with the changing of dressings, both sterile and clean
• Assists the physician and/or nurse with complex procedures, gathering the required items, comforting the patient, monitoring patient physical status, and passing instruments and supplies
• Assists in post­ mortem care
• Obtains laboratory specimens for testing including urine, stool, sputum and nasogastric tube specimens
• Performs capillary glucose testing by glucometer, if applicable
• Fills out lab slips accurately and sends specimens to the laboratory
• Uses the approved method to record and report patient care including obvious physical and/or behavioral changes of patients, vital signs, as well as less obvious and more complex changes such as non-verbal cues
• e.g., early signs of skin breakdown, slight drooling of the mouth
• changes in sensorium in the medical record
• Maintains flow sheets and patient records, documenting patient care as per expected standards
• Maintains a safe patient environment, recognizing hazards and taking corrective action
• Participates in the orientation of newly assigned personnel
• Assists in stocking, replacing and rotating of supplies
• Sets up, operates, performs minor maintenance and upkeep, cleans and properly stores equipment
• Adheres to safety practices concerning patient care
• maintains a safe clean environment in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies, as well as takes action to correct less obvious hazards, and makes suggestions for improving current equipment and environment
• Knowledge of a body of standardized rules and skill sufficient to perform procedures requiring considerable training and experience to carry out nursing care and resolve recurring problems relative to personal nursing care, diagnostic services, patient treatment, charting and safety
• Provides Resident Centered Care: VA CLCs are committed to providing resident-centered care
• Resident-centered care identifies an approach to providing health care where the treatment plan is driven by the needs, preferences, and life-long habits of the resident
• Care is individualized to each resident, and the resident is a participant in their own care when possible
• Attention is paid to ensure that care meets the age-appropriate, cultural, and religious needs and preferences of each Veteran
• Utilizes effective communication with patients, families, visitors, and members of the interdisciplinary team, including the patient in mutual goal setting, and providing patient advocacy when appropriate
• Visibly demonstrates the ICARE (Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence) Core Values in interactions with Veterans, staff, and other stakeholders
• Performs other related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Full-Time
• 2:00PM- 10:30pm (may include rotating weekends and holidays)
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 06086F, 06087F, and 06088F