Nursing Assistant

About the role

This Nursing Assistant position is located in the Nursing Service (Mental Health) at the Bedford VA Healthcare Medical Center, in Bedford, Massachusetts. This is a full time position at 40-hours per week.

Major Duties

• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans refers deviation to appropriate health care staff.
• Provides direct care for complex veterans.
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e. behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc. and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role.
• Documents care given, observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms.
• Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personal.
• Administers complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitor and documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely and accurately.
• Performs 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.
• Works on small group activities with veterans/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan.
• Recognizes the residents' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting and individualized treatment.
• Actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings.
• Utilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care, such as; lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Verbalizes patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran/residents' plan of care, participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planning.
• Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats.
• Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient/resident.
• Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, contributes to infection control, and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties.
• Serves as the unit safe patient handling liaison.
• Serves as preceptor and mentor to other NAs.
• Orients members of the health care team to the units as appropriate.
• Functions as a member of the unit base counsel.
• Manages distributed patient behavior and by appropriately intervenes and request assistant from other health care members.
• Appropriately initiates basic life support, takes actions appropriate action.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, English Language Proficiency, and Experience or Education as outlined in the Qualifications section.
• Experience: Six months of general experience or one year of specialized experience as a NA or experience in another medical field performing technical and nursing skills.
• Education: One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation or 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.
• Training: Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one year as a NA.
• Grade Determinations: Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) as outlined in the GS-3, GS-4, and GS-5 grade levels.