Nursing Assistant - CLC

About the role

The Nursing Assistant (NA) at James H. Quillen VA Medical Center (JHQVAMC) is assigned to provide care for an adult/geriatric patient population - ranging from the critically/acutely ill patient to the chronically/terminally ill long-term patients - including mental health patients. The incumbent's work area may be either on a ward setting and/or with patients in transit or while in other designated places.

Responsibilities

• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans, refers deviations 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.
• Determines 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.
• 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.
• Enters information about the residents' conditions in the chart in 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 and 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 requests assistant from other health care members.
• Initiates basic life support, takes actions appropriate to the situation.

Requirements

• Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship, 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.
• Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over), Heavy carrying (45 lbs and over), Straight pulling (up to 8 hours), Pushing (up to 8 hours), Reaching above shoulders, Using fingers both hands required, Walking (up to 8 hours), Standing (up to 8 hours), Kneeling (2 to 3 hours), Repeated bending (up to 8 hours), Both legs required, Hearing (aid permitted).

Qualifications

• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 1 Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patient/residents, 2 Ability to observe patients/residents physical or emotional state 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 patient/residents, their families and other health professionals.

Skills

• Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patient/resident 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, including serving as a preceptor to new nursing assistants 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.

Benefits

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)

Parental 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 child

Child 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 $416.66

Retirement: 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 Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized