The Nursing Assistant (NA) at the GS-5 level is considered to be the Full Performance Level. The NA performs complex nursing assistant care independently.

Duties

Duties to include but not limited to: Provide comprehensive nursing care for medical, long-term care and/or psychiatric patients who are seriously ill/highly dysfunctional or who are in the rehabilitative process. Uses initiative in motivating patients and re-directing their behavior toward treatment plan goals. Performs all duties of a Nursing Assistant yet duties performed do not require professional nurse education or knowledge and skills represented by licensure, but does require initiative in implementing problematic goals for the resident. Ensure proper identification of patients; responds to fire, other disasters, and/or drills in accordance with center/nursing memoranda, policies and procedures. Is alert to and reports safety hazards. Practices conservation of supplies/energy. Maintains confidentiality of patient's condition, affairs and records. Provides and maintains patient's privacy. Provides for patients' rights and encourages them to meet their responsibilities as patients. Provide Veteran/Family Centered Care throughout the assignment. Demonstrates communication skills that promote rapport and trust in Mental Health Recovery. Exhibit de-escalation communication skills to prevent unsafe situations. Assures the assignment of special observation status, including restraint and seclusion is completed according to policy. Utilizes computer according to center policy and wireless computing skills to increase engagement with Veterans. Maintains a therapeutic environment, milieu, and cultural transformation. Search for missing Veterans, person search, environmental contraband search, verifying Veteran's presence, etc. Additional duties may include but are not limited to: personal nursing care, treatments, support for diagnostic service; charting, teaching and environmental duties. Work Schedule: Full Time/8 Hour Shifts, to include evenings, nights, weekends and holidays Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Requirements

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. 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: U.S. citizenship. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education or Training. One year above high school with courses related to the [NA] occupation. 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. Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English Preferred Experience: Certification preferred but not required. Geriatrics and Extended Care and/or Mental health experience preferred. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.GS-5 Nursing Assistant (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 that are directly related to the specific assignment. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) below; OR, Education. 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; AND Demonstrated KSAs1. 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.2. 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.3. 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. References: Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard GS-621 Veterans Health Administration, VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G46. Physical Requirements: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center 3701 Loop Road East Tuscaloosa, AL 35404 US
• Name: Kara Wanner
• Email: [email protected]