Nursing Assistant-Geriatric Extended Care

Summary The Geriatric Extended Care (GEC) Nursing Assistant provides care to Veterans with physical and/or behavioral health issues. NAs support licensed nursing staff in preventive - acute - sub-acute - chronic - maintenance - and hospice care. 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 United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA PolicyExperience or Education or Training: Six months of general experienceExperience 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 occupationOR 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 ProficiencyNAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3jMay 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 for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidatesGS-3 NA (Entry Level) Experience and EducationNone beyond the basic requirementso AssignmentsIndividuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervisedGS-4 NA ExperienceOne 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 - EducationSuccessful 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 professionalsGS-5 NA (Full Performance Level) ExperienceOne 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 - EducationSuccessful 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(c) Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)i 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 - etcReference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05Preferred Experience: 1 year of experience working in long-term care and dementia/geriatric-psych experience1 year year med-surg experience. Duties The nursing assistant will develop skills in order to participate in assessing - implementing - and evaluating nursing careResponsibilities will be completed under close supervision at all times as well as with appropriate trainingDuties include but are not limited toUtilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans and refers deviation to appropriate health care staffProvides direct care for complex veteransMakes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition - i.ebehavior shifts - mood - skin coloring - appetite - etc. - and takes action accordingly within the NAs assigned roleDocuments care given - observations and responses on appropriate tools or formsResponds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personnelAdministers complete tracheostomy care - including suctioningMonitor and documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely and accuratelyPerforms 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 devicesWorks on small group activities with veterans/residents according to the patient's/resident's treatment planRecognizes the residents' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect - limit setting and individualized treatmentActively participates in Treatment Planning MeetingsUtilizes equipment to promote the veteran self-care - such aslift equipment - Hydro sound Tubs - and Veteran/Resident Wandering SystemVerbally provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran's/residents' plan of care - participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planningEnters information about the residents' condition in the chart - utilizing appropriate formatsParticipates in maintaining a clean - safe environment for the patient's/resident'sRemoves defective equipment - reports hazards - observes safety regulations - contributes to infection control - and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of dutiesServes as the unit safe patient handling liaisonServes as preceptor and mentor to other NAsOrients members of the health care team to the units as appropriateFunctions as a member of the unit base counselManages disruptive patient behavior and appropriately intervenes and requests assistance from other health care membersAppropriately initiates basic life support - takes appropriate actionTotal Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 80 hours bi-weekly-/Alternating weekends and holidaysRecruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not AuthorizedPermanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not AuthorizedPay: 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 VAInsurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)Telework: Not AuthorizedVirtual: This is not a virtual positionFunctional Statement #: FS 512-25459-F - FS 512-25460-F - and SF 51225461-F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.