Nursing Assistant - Rehabilitation and Extended Care

About the role

This Nursing Assistant - Rehabilitation and Extended Care position is located within the VA Community Living Center at the Central Iowa VA Medical Center in Des Moines, where Veterans receive nursing home level care including help with activities of daily living as well as skilled nursing and medical care. The Nursing Assistants deliver safe, basic physical and emotional care to residents with simple to complex needs while contributing to patient recovery and wellness.

Responsibilities

• Maintains accurate records of patient intake and output, documenting deviations promptly and accurately.
• Performs purposeful and intentional rounding to monitor resident health and safety.
• Carries out nursing procedures within scope of practice, adhering to policies and standard procedures, including but not limited to: colostomy care, nail/skin care, simple dressing, activities of daily living assistance, foley catheter care, application of braces and prosthetic devices, and restorative programs (ROM, AROM, PROM, Ambulation).
• Documents patient information and care in the Electronic Health Record Management system (EHRM).
• Engages in small group activities with patients/residents according to their treatment plans.
• Respects residents' autonomy and promotes independence through respect, limit setting, and individualized treatment approaches.
• Participates in Treatment Planning Meetings to collaborate on patient care plans.
• Manages patient behavior and intervenes as necessary, requesting assistance from other healthcare members when needed.

Requirements

• Work Schedule: Night shift, six shifts from 1930-0800 and one shift from 2330-0800 (bi-weekly) with rotating holidays and weekends.
• Compressed/Flexible Work Schedule: Available.
• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not authorized.
• Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not authorized.
• Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time off 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.
• Telework: Not available.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Physical requirements: Pre-employment examination or evaluation required.

Pay and Schedule

Competitive salary and regular salary increases.

Work Schedule: Night shift, six shifts from 1930-0800 and one shift from 2330-0800 (bi-weekly) with rotating holidays and weekends.

Qualifications

To qualify at the GS-3 level, you must meet the following:

• Six (6) months of general experience or one (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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, completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one year as a Nursing Assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.

To qualify at the GS-4 level, you must meet the following:

• One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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 two (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.
• AND, in addition you must demonstrate the following 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' or 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.

To qualify at the GS-5 level, you must meet the following:

• One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment.
• Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home, or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care.
• OR, successful completion of 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.
• AND, in addition you must demonstrate the following 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. For example, recognizing need for basic life support, controlling bleeding and assisting with behavior crisis, etc.