James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital looking for a Nursing Assistant (Multiple positions) Full Time within our Domiciliary. Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service (MHBSS) at the James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital and Clinics (JAHVH) offers specialized inpatient and outpatient care to its veteran population. These services are provided within Mental Health inpatient psychiatry units - Acute Recovery Centers (ARC) and Domiciliary (DOM) Residential rehabilitation and Treatment Programs (RRTP).

Duties

The Nursing Assistant (NA) may perform these duties in the Domiciliary. The NA will care for patients/residents within this facility through the rehabilitation process. The Nursing Assistant (NA) provides complex nursing care independently as a member f the nursing care team by assisting higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and their members of the care team. The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision, are learning to perform complex nursing skills, and will refer issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, or other healthcare professionals. In addition to performing basic patient care duties, the MHBSS Nursing Assistant requires skills to maintain a sterile field in procedural areas, the ability to set up or reprocess Reusable Medical Equipment (RME), knowledgeable of equipment/devices. Duties may include but are not limited to the following: Maintains a positive therapeutic relationship by displaying respect for human dignity with patients, families, and/or significant others utilizing communication skills. Utilizes observation skills for data collection, reporting and recording. Participates in shift reports, safety huddles, and contributes with information for the development and review of the nursing care plan. Maintains a safe, clean, and therapeutic environment for patients by performing such activities as checking equipment, assessing safety hazards, straightening procedural and storage areas, cleaning stretchers and wheelchairs between patient uses. Sends broken, torn, or equipment needing maintenance to designated areas. Monitors patients who may be at risk for harming themselves and or others according to established policies and procedures and appropriately refers issues to the charge nurse or other health care professional. Performs and documents prescribed medical treatment and interventions for patients, such as diabetic urine testing and blood testing, simple dressing changes. Refers deviations to appropriate nursing staff or other health care provider. Recognizing changes in the patient's condition and behavior (e.g., level of consciousness, inappropriate behavior), and reporting this to the Registered Nurse (RN). Assisting with patient education including orienting patient/family to unit/service routines and policies. Provides care appropriate to the age of patients served. Applying the principles of growth and development over the life span and identifying age-specific needs. Completion of communication log and handing off of communication among shifts. Processing residents for clearance, including storage, security, inventory of resident. property and removal of contraband. May assist with social and recreation activities conducted by staff and volunteer groups. Incumbent will monitor Domiciliary RRTP recreations equipment usage. Maintains a valid driver's license, DOT certification and demonstrates knowledge of safety in the operation of the van/shuttle to transport residents. Changes in driver's license status will be reported to the Nurse Manager and Domiciliary Program Manager. The NA incumbent will not drive the van without a valid license, medical clearance from occupational health or if on medication that would interfere with safe driving. In that case, the NA will seek assistance from another qualified staff person for transport. Maintains competencies in the use of the breathalyzer equipment and observation of urine specimen collections. Maintains equipment and administers breathalyzer or urine specimen collection for residents upon admission, return from pass, as part of random screens and as deemed appropriate to monitor residents' safety. Suspicion of substance usage/abuse will be reported to charge nurse for assessment and need to transport to JAH for further testing and evaluation Conducts and documents safety rounds of common areas of the Domiciliary every 2 hours or as needed, completes health and welfare inspections for contraband, assists with linen changes, and ensures residents' adherence to policy and domiciliary rules. Assist with bed bug mitigation and ensure proper amount of linen available for residents. Assist with scheduling necessary maintenance and routine washing of vehicles. Other duties assigned Preferred Experience: Nursing Assistant experience/certification; Mental Health experience BLS Work Schedule: Full Time, Variable --24/7 patient care unit, tours of duty include weekend rotations, day, evening, and/or night tours depending on organizational needs (position requires flexibility in schedule) Compressed/Flexible: Compress are available as needed or eight-hour toursn. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: (a) Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) (b) 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. (c) 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-3 Grade Determinations: (a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-4 Grade Determinations: (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 (transcripts required); AND (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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. (d) Assignment. Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team 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 significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs or other healthcare professionals. 2. In this role, the Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded [NAs], licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care, or other patients who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The Nursing Assistant in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs, or other healthcare professionals. GS-5 Grade Determinations: (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 (transcripts required); AND (c) Demonstrated 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. (d) 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 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. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The NA may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The NA may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The NA must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The NA must complete annual employee health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. These physical requirements will be consistent with VA Directive 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 James A Haley Veterans Hospital 13000 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard Tampa, FL 33612 US
• Name: Deborah Burton
• Phone: 813-804-2103
• Email: [email protected]