Nursing Assistant

About the role

This position performs activities of daily living and provides a range of care that contributes to the Veteran's treatment plan, recovery, and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider.

Responsibilities

• Maintains a positive therapeutic relationship by displaying respect for human dignity with patients, families and/or significant others utilizing learned communication skills.
• Begins to utilize observation skills for data collection, reporting and recording patient/resident observations. Learning to perform aspects of nursing care to meet patient's needs for the following under close supervision and with direction/guidance from a preceptor:
• Personal Hygiene
• Physical comfort
• Activity, Exercise, Rest
• Nutrition
• Elimination
• Prevention of Skin Breakdown
• Rehabilitative Aspects of Care
• Learning to utilize principles of proper body mechanics and follows procedures for use of patient care equipment to prevent injury to self or others in all settings such as utilization of lifting equipment.
• Reports patient observations to the RN and/or other members of the treatment team.
• Trained to set up patient care related equipment. Organizes and obtains routine supplies and equipment.
• Affords assistance with orienting patient/family to unit routines and policies.
• Works as a cooperative, courteous member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Safeguards the patient's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature.
• Uses proper safety practices.
• Utilizes equipment and supplies according to procedures.
• Completes all mandatory training within appropriate timelines.
• Actively participates in annual competency assessment and validation.

Requirements

• Work Schedule: 6:30am - 7:00pm, including rotating weekends and holidays. Compressed/Flexible: Available.
• 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).

Qualifications

• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
• 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.
• GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level): None beyond the basic requirements.
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant: One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant or experience in another medical field, 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 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.
• GS-5 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level): 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 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.

Physical Requirements

• This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear and distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. The role involves potentially long periods of walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The Nursing Assistant (NA) may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may need to wear protective clothing in isolation situations or during operative/invasive procedures. The NA may occasionally encounter patients who are combative due to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders.

Education

• Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.