Duties are performed under the immediate supervision of the professional registered nurse. Recurring assignments, such as daily care, are undertaken independently in accordance with patient care plans and instructions from the team throughout the tour. Report is provided to the team throughout the tour including any unusual occurrences. The employee uses initiative in carrying out tasks independently without specific instructions.

Duties

DUTIES: Performs and documents patient care activities and treatments in the prescribed plan of care, demonstrating knowledge of anatomy and physiology, aseptic principles, disease processes, and skill in application principles. Recognizes emergency situations, initiates appropriate actions according to policy and procedure, demonstrating knowledge of and skill in initiating CPR. Contributes to a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment for patients and staff by cleaning equipment, furniture, appliances, and patient care areas. Greets and receives patients, visitors, and the public in a courteous, respectful, and friendly manner. Contributes to a positive facility image and promotes a better environment, demonstrating knowledge of and skill in communication techniques, interpersonal relationships, and understanding of adult development and behavior. Observes, listens to and asks questions of patients, families, and heal the team members to ascertain information to assist in better patient care using knowledge communication techniques, and adult development and behavior. Reports findings to the appropriate member of the interdisciplinary team. Accepts direction, supervision , and evaluation in the performance of duties and functions to contribute to a cohesive working environment and completes work based on patients' conditions, carrying out essential activities proficiently within the expected time frame, and assisting other team members with their assignments as appropriate and as time permits. Collects data for quality monitoring projects. Directs patients to their units, checks for contraband and inventories and stores patient belongings. Provides patient and family members with information relating to the stay including environmental orientation and services available. Encourages patients to maintain self care but assists in the performance of personal care, which includes the provision of complete or partial bed bath shower, oral care, shampoos, perinea' care, skin care, shaving, and dressing, dependent on the degree of need. Provides pre and postprocedural care including changing dressings and the reinforcement of patient and family teaching provided by clinical staff. Performs basic restorative care including ambulation, transfer bed to chair, and bed to cart, positioning. Uses assistive devices for patient transfer or ambulation safely including gait belts, braces, splints, crutches, canes, and mechanical lifts. Performs basic skills in taking temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respiration, and oxygen saturation via pulse oximetry, height, weight, and oral suctioning, ensures patients are prepared for tests and accompanies patients to other testing procedures, as t he patient's condition requires. Documents daily interventions, and vital sign measurement in the patient's record according to policy/procedure. Maintains patient and staff work areas in a clean and orderly condition (empties linen hampers, cleans patient care areas). Maintains a safe and secure environment, recognizing and reporting potential safety hazards and assisting in the facilitation of a safe environment with special consideration of patients with memory deficits, orientation problems, and/or acti ng out behaviors. Recognizes and reports equipment and property breakdowns and needed repairs. Conducts sanitation rounds, patient searches and property searches. Stocks and monitors expiration dates of patient care supplies and/or equipment. Inventories, reorders, SPD supplies. Sets up and takes down meal trays . Utilizing appropriate therapeutic boundaries, participates with treatment team to provide input into the interdisciplinary plan of care. Promotes the sense of self worth and dignity with patients, treating them with respect, encouraging them to take an active interest in the welfare of their peers, motivating family members to become actively involved in the patient treatment process, and fostering the increased self reliance and independence of the patients. Independently responds to a range of emergencies on the unit and assists patients in receiving the appropriate level of intervention. As needed, performs basic crisis intervention including application of physical restraints, performing 1:1 observation for suicidal, homicidal, seizure prone, or patients going thru withdrawal of addictive or other chemical substances. Performs other related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 7:30pm-8:00am Compressed/Flexible:Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized $5,500 3year Incentive for Best Qualified Applicant Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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. 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: 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; 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: GS5: 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 In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. 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. Assignment. This is the full performance level for [NAs]. [NAs] at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. [NAs] at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/81 PART II APPENDIX G46 The full performance level of this vacancy is 5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 5. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

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 Salem VA Medical Center 1970 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, VA 24153 US
• Name: Kera Madden
• Phone: 540-982-2463 X2770
• Email: [email protected]