The Nursing Assistant (NA) is assigned to the Community Living Center inpatient areas of the VA Montana Medical Center. This area serves adult and elderly Veterans needing acute, chronic, long term care, rehabilitation or end of life care. This person will possess excellent communication and team building knowledge and skills, Basic Life Support (BLS) required for NAs per policy. Certification required. ***This position is part time/intermittent***

Duties

Duties and skills needed to be successful in this position include, but are not limited to: Accurately record restorative care given to resident in Care Tracker/CPRS Inform Restorative Nurse/PT of improvements or decline in resident condition Participate in training and/or meetings that help facilitate the Restorative Nursing/Therapy department communication process Report observations Perform ordered therapies in safe and skillful manner as indicated for each resident Adheres to VA and Nursing policies, procedures, and standard Delivers care to patients in a respectful, non-judgmental manner Maintains patient privacy/confidentiality and patient rights to privacy/confidentiality Participates in selected Continuous Improvement (Cl) activities as directed Assists with selected activities related to patient admission/transfer and discharge, Collects patient information including observation of overall condition. Recognizes and reports obvious changes in patient condition including emergencies. Takes appropriate actions in response to patient emergent situations Accurately documents patient information in CPRS Provides patient information to the accountable RN for inclusion in the patient's plan of care Uses appropriate lifting/moving/transfer techniques/devices Utilizes infection control and universal standard precautions Adjusts to assignment changes Participates in the interdisciplinary team care planning and delivery of care process Assists in the implementation of any treatment program as assigned Related to stages of adult development Recognizes communication barriers Demonstrates correct moving and transferring techniques Demonstrates correct use of assistive devices for eating Promotes correct use of ambulation devices Applies heat and cold therapies, administers respiratory therapies Promotes skin healing through the application of noncomplexdressing changes and the application of ostomy appliances Assists in the initiation of behavioral management as directed Monitors those patients on safety checks and 1:1 observation Performs finger stick blood glucose using glucometer Interacts in a courteous/respectful manner with co-workers/members of other services Interacts in a courteous/respectful manner with patients, families and visitors Uses appropriate channels of communication Participates in unit-based staff meetings Follows verbal and/or written directions Accurately conveys and receives information through either a verbal, written communication or electronic mode Adheres to uniform policy Uses information management technologies, follows computer security policies and provides for confidentiality of patient and/or employee information. Respects individual differences (diversity) of patients and all staff Maintains appropriate boundaries when dealing with patients/significant others/families and all staff Uses organizational channels (including Ethics Committee) to seek help to resolve personal concerns resulting from ethical conflicts Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of the Medical Center Work Schedule Part-Time, varying shifts Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:52618,52619,52620 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized 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. 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. Grade Determinations: GS-03: None beyond the basic requirements GS-04: 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, 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; In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 resident's 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-05: 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. 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; In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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. Preferred Experience: Nursing assistant or personal care experience References: VA HANDBOOK 5005/81 PART II APPENDIX G46 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. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. It requires assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/litters and transporting them to other departments. In addition to the aforementioned duties, it may involve moving equipment/objects in excess of 40lbs. The position may require the incumbent to go up and down several flights of stairs in response to all emergency codes. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

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 Fort Harrison VA Medical Center 3687 Veterans Drive Fort Harrison, MT 59636 US
• Name: Barbara Ruicker
• Phone: 918-616-1494
• Email: [email protected]