This position is located in the Community Living Center (CLC) within the Harry S Truman Veteran's Hospital, Columbia, MO. This Nursing Assistant will provide restorative care and therapeutic activities based on the CLC's Restorative Care Program involving nursing interventions that promote the ability to adapt and adjust to living as independently and safely as is possible. This concept actively focuses on achieving and maintaining optimal physical, mental, and psychosocial functioning.

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: - Demonstrates knowledge of geriatric care to participate in a restorative/rehabilitative plan of care. - Educates Veteran on his/her restorative care programs. - Carries out the restorative services according to the plan of care using interventions that assist or promote the Veteran's ability to attain his or her maximum, optimal/potential as long and safely as possible. - Encourages and promotes independence and self-care with ADLs. - Records accurate data, level of assist, and documents Veteran's responses to interventions related to Restorative Care activities within Veteran chart. - Communicates with nursing NA's regarding Veteran's status and restorative care requirements. - Maintains positive, supportive relationships with Veterans. - Develops and conducts small group activities on the unit for Veterans in order to engage the Veteran in a meaningful way throughout the day and promote social interaction. - Participates in team conferences for planning Veteran care, encourages health, contributes to the plan of care, and understands the Veteran's condition and medical treatment in order to be able to observe and report significant changes that require action by the nurse or physician. - Makes visual observations of changes in Veteran's physical or emotional condition and keeps the team informed. - Incumbent must have ability to adapt basic nursing measures to meet physical, social, emotional, and rehabilitative needs of the older Veteran. He/she is expected to be innovative in approaches to work-planning organization and care delivery. - Implements resuscitative measures and emergency response protocol, as prescribed for cardiac or respiratory arrest. Recognizes and responds appropriately when it is necessary to indicate emergency measures for any form of crisis intervention and call for nurse and/or physician. - Performs care according the CLC Restorative Care Programs: Bowel and Bladder toileting, Bed Mobility, Ambulation and Transfers, Communication, Amputation and Prosthetic Care, Range of Motion, Splint and Brace Care, and Restorative Dining. - Follows scheduled toileting plan with Veteran's if needed during their planned time or activity with Veteran. - Assist Veteran to maintain or optimize ability to move self independently as possible while in bed; teach techniques on positioning while in bed, aid in repositioning and turn schedule as needed. Ensuring Veteran performs bed mobility exercises to improve function; exercises provided by restorative nurse coordinator. - Aids and teaches the Veteran using verbal and physical guidance, cues to apply or aid in application of splint/brace as needed. Monitoring skin before donning/doffing. Safety with two finger checks, proper placement, cleaning, and storage of the splint/brace. - Assists and monitors assessed needs and follows interventions for restorative dining. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 0730-1600, some holidays and weekends Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not auhorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not require.

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 requirement for GS-3. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. See below. 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 Nursing Assistants 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. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation 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). Quality of Experience: To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-3 NA (Entry Level) (a) Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 NA (a) 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, (b) 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; AND (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities KSAs. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: 1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. 2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. 3. 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. 4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level) (a) 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, (b) 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 (c) Demonstrated 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. Preferred Experience: Restorative Care References: Veterans Health Administration, VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G46 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5. Physical Requirements: Position requires extensive periods of standing and walking. Working with Veterans requires bending, lifting, stooping, and other similar activities. The use of correct body mechanics is required. Incumbent must be able to lift objects 35Ibs using proper lifting techniques. Incumbent must be able to perform range of motion exercises, ambulation on multiple Veterans daily. They must possess the momentum to perform these tasks repetitively daily. This position also requires an ability to remain stable under prolonged physical and psychological pressure; a sense of humor; a willingness to examine own behavior as it impacts on the environment. The incumbent must be a "people person", with enthusiasm to relate effectively to both Veterans and staff, an ability to identify the potential for safety hazards, is courteous, cheerful, compassionate, sincerely concerned for the delivery of quality care, maintains a high degree of objectivity-by nature, self-direction in utilizing available resources.

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 Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital 800 Hospital Drive Columbia, MO 65201 US
• Name: Kelly Cummins
• Phone: 720-309-5521
• Email: [email protected]