Nursing Assistant-Geriatric Extended Care

About the role

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. This position is located at Loch Raven VAMC.

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 Policy.
• Experience or Education or Training: Six months of general experience demonstrating 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 occupation; OR 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 Proficiency: NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.
• 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

GS-3 NA (Entry Level)

• Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements.
• Assignments: Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.

GS-4 NA

• 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 treatments; 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 (such as education in a program for psychology, psychiatric, or operating room technicians).
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
  • Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
  • Ability to observe patients/residents' physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
  • 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.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families, and other health professionals.

GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level)

• Experience: One year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities directly related to the specific assignment; 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.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):
  • 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 Nurse.
  • Ability to communicate orally with patients/residents, families, interdisciplinary team, and other personnel. This 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 setting.
  • Ability to recognize and react to emergent patient/resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance (e.g., recognizing need for basic life support, controlling bleeding, assisting with behavior crisis).

Preferred Experience: 1 year of experience working in hospice and/or a long-term care (LTC) setting.

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-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05.

Responsibilities

The nursing assistant will develop skills in order to participate in assessing, implementing, and evaluating nursing care. Responsibilities will be completed under close supervision at all times as well as with appropriate training. Duties include but are not limited to:

• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans and refers deviation to appropriate health care staff.
• Provides direct care for complex veterans.
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition (e.g., behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite) 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 personnel.
• Administers complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning.
• Monitors 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, including 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 patient's/resident's 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.
• Verbally 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 planning.
• Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats.
• Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient's/resident's.
• 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 N