Nursing Assistant -Transporter

About the role

The Nursing Assistant-Transporter is organizationally aligned under Patient Care Services - working in Operations. They work at a two-divisional teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Kentucky (UK) Medical Center at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center - Lexington - Ky. Incumbents are required to work at both the Sousley Campus and Bowling Campus locations.

Responsibilities

• Transport patients who may require close observation and support.
• Accompany selected patients as assigned.
• Absorb safety during transportation process and ensure proper hand-off and accountability for return of patients.
• Collect and label specimens of sputum, urine (routine and sterile), feces, and assist with the collection of other sterile specimens, as directed by the team leader for storage and/or delivery to the laboratory.
• Build upon knowledge of basic nursing care and standardized procedures to provide service to patients.
• Perform tasks after receiving patient data and information.
• Assignments are related to the specific needs of the area during a given tour as well as routine functions of the area.
• Manage equipment special to the area.
• Assist the RN with patient care, obtain vital signs, obtain electrocardiograms, proper lead placement for monitoring, perform phlebotomy, and do simple wound dressings.

Requirements

• Experience and Education:
  • 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.
  • 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.
• 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 patient/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 patient/residents, their families, and other health professionals.
• Education:
  • 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.
  • 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.
• Professional KSAs:
  • 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.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirements:
  • United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
  • Experience and Education:
    • None beyond the basic requirements.
    • 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.
    • 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.
  • Grandfathering Provisions: All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation.

Benefits

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Pay Plan: V0F3.
• Work Schedule: M-F Day Tour of Duty.
• Telework: Not available.
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 31362 - 31363 & 31364.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized.
• 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 experience.
• 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).

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.
• 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).