Nursing Assistant

Summary The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the health care team and provides direct patient care to inpatient Veterans at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center. The Nursing Assistant serves as a member of the interdisciplinary care team and engages with the resident - the resident's family and other members of the care team designing and implementing the resident's unique plan of care. Qualifications Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyEnglish Language ProficiencyNAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3jEducation or Education or Training(1)[Six months of general experienceExperience 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 occupationOR - (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. Grandfathering Provisions: All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupationFor employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointedAll requirements outlined in the VA Qualification Standards 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: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each gradeThe candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the gradeGS-03 - Entry Level Experience and Education None beyond the basic requirementsAssignments Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervisedGS-04 - 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 treatmentsOr Education Successful completion of 2 years above high school in an accredited institution with courses related to nursing care - healthcare 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 techniciansAND Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residentsii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manneriii 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 - etciv Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents - their families and other health professionalsAssignment : Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervisedNAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs - 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 illnessThe significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors - higher graded NAs or other health care professionalsii In this role - the NA functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded NAs - 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 illnessThe NA in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors - higher graded NAs - or other health care professionalsGS-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 assignmentIn addition - the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) belowOR - 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 degreeAnd Demonstrated KSA'si 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 Nurseii Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents - families - interdisciplinary team and other personnelThis 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 settingiii Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistanceFor example - recognizing need for basic life support - controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis - etcAssignment This is the full performance level for NAsNAs 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 illnessThe distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirementsNAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship roleMay 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)Preferred Experience: Minimum 2 years geriatrics - long term care - and/or medical surgical LPN clinical experience Previous experience with geriatric population 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-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterityThis position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushingTransferring patients and objects may be requiredThe NA may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive proceduresThe NA may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disordersThe NA must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needsSee VA Directive and Handbook 5019. Duties The Nursing Assistant performs a variety of personal nursing care duties which include but are not limited to: The incumbent is self-directed in providing nursing care to a variety of patients/residents of ages across the adult continuum to meet personal hygiene needs such as bathing - lifting - turning and feeding - all the while explains procedures to patient/and or familyThe NA provides nursing care - performs clinical procedures according to specialty - technical procedures and ancillary services for complex patientManages unlicensed treatments - reports pain levels - reports abnormal clinical conditions - and provides emotional support to the CLC Residents and their families as neededProvides support with restorative care - ADL's - and total personal care based on individual Resident needsAssist with safe transfers - ambulation - and use of mobility equipment in alignment with fall-prevention and safety protocolsCollaborate effectively with RNs - LPNs - Care Partners - and the interdisciplinary team to ensure consistent - high-quality resident careMaintain resident rooms - equipment - and common areas in a clean and safe conditionObtain and accurately document vital signs (temperature - pulse - respirations - blood pressure - oxygen saturation)Report any abnormal vital signs to the RN/LPN immediatelyPerform and record chemsticks for residents requiring blood glucose monitoring - reporting abnormal results promptly to the RN/LPNConsistently follows the Plan of Care for each patientAssist with restorative and functional-maintenance activities to promote resident independence and mobilitySupport therapeutic activities - social engagement - and resident-centered routines Performs other duties as assignedTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 7:30am - 8:00pm or 7:30pm -8:00am Day and Night shifts available with rotating weekends Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): 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 experienceParental 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 childChild 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 $416.66Retirement: 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 Avaliable Virtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: 51225F - 51226F - 51227F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: This position is in the Excepted Service The salary is based on the grade and step approved for the selected candidateVeterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employeesThe 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this positionFor more information - refer to Required Documents belowIf you are a current federal employee - you are required to attach your Most Recent non-award SF-50This should be a SF-50 from the current calendar year which shows your current position - grade and stepAward SF-50's do not provide sufficient information and will not be accepted.