The Nursing Assistant functions as member of the Nursing Care Team and assigned to provide care for an adult/geriatric patient population, ranging from the critically/acutely ill patient to the chronically/terminally ill long-term patients, including mental health patients. The incumbent's work area may be either on a ward setting and/or with patients in transit or while in other designated places.

Duties

Duties include but may not be limited to: Functions as a member of the nursing team, performing duties not requiring the knowledge, judgement, and skill of a professional nurse. Provides complex care to patients with severe mental conditions requiring intensive psychiatric treatment. Uses initiative in providing care and in motivating patients to reach treatment goals. Demonstrates a high degree of sensitivity and understanding. Performs all duties with a high degree of skill, Maintains confidentiality regarding patient information. Interacts with assigned patients at frequent intervals. Communicates in a therapeutic manner by listening, assisting with verbal and non-verbal communication, seeking out patients, and sitting with silent patients. Provides complex emotional care to patients exhibiting severe symptomatology and variety of diagnoses. Identifies and intervenes in behavioral changes which indicate a potential for assaultiveness, suicide, elopement. Notifies nurse when such changes occur. Initiates least restrictive measures to de-escalate patients who are becoming agitate. Leads rap sessions or orientation groups and shares thoughts and feelings about what is occurring in group and participant behavior. Promotes patient participation in groups by encouraging attendance and interaction. Recognizes, reports, appropriately intervenes and/or assists with intervention in potential/actual medical emergencies, (e.g., respiratory/cardiac arrests, seizures, foreign body obstruction), Performs selected procedures (e.g., catheterizations, suctioning, and colostomy care/irrigations), Takes and documents vital signs at schedule and unscheduled times and reports deviations in vital signs to nurse. Recognizes the need for and takes vital signs during emergencies. Physically restrains acting out patients in a safe manner and correctly applies leather restraints. Recognizes and reports increases in patient's level of stress and takes steps to assist patient in reducing level of stress. Participates in planning of patient care during patient care conferences and other times by sharing pertinent information gained in contacts with patients and their families. Maintains accurate check of patient location and activity throughout the tour. Initiates searches for unaccounted for patients. Notes medication side effects (e.g., tremors, drooling, drowsiness) and reports their presence to nurse. Recognizes the need for scheduled and unscheduled patient activities and takes steps to develop such activities when services of allied therapies are not available. Attends patient government meetings and provides information regarding ward policies, rules, regulations as needed. Responds to patient complaints and concerns and/or reports them to nurse. Maintains confidentiality of patient information. Completes assignment sheets and implements appropriate interventions from the nursing care plan. Assists patients needed help with basic ADLs and encourages increased independence in performing ADLs. Assists with the admission, and orientation of new patients and the transfer or discharge of patients. Assists patients in communicating with family/significant others by telephoning, letter writing/reading. Prepares patients for a variety of diagnostic tests as directed by the nurse. Assists members of the treatment team with examination, treatments, and diagnostic procedures as needed. Assists in the preparation, care, and recovery of patients receiving ECT. Provides care to patients on special precautions (e.g., suicidal, seclusion, restraints, elopement, gerichair, close observation). Recognizes and reports behavior indicating disorientation and reorients patient to surroundings. Observes/monitor patient functioning (e.g., sleep pattern, dietary intake, elimination pattern, interaction with peers of staff; changes in usual pattern of behavior and signs and symptoms of illness). Supervises psychiatry service dining room and intervenes in medical and/or psychiatric emergencies. Initiates and participates in day room activities such as card games. Encourages patient participation in assigned activities. Work Schedule: 07:30-16:00, 07:30-20:00, 20:00-08:00, 15:30-24:00, 24:00-08:00 Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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 Nursing Assistant 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. Physical Requirements. Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight pulling (up to 8 hours); Pushing (up to 8 hours); Reaching above shoulders; Use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 8 hours); standing (up to 8 hours); kneeling (2 to 3 hours); repeated bending (up to 8 hours); both legs required; hearing (aid permitted). English Language Proficiency: must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j. 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). Preferred Experience: Medical-Surgery, Rehabilitation, Long Term Care experience preferred, BLS (American Heart Association). Grade Determinations: GS-3 No specialized experience beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant or experience in another medical field, 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 - 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. In addition to the above, applicant must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 1 Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patient/residents. 2 Ability to observe patients/residents 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 patient / residents, their families and other health professionals. GS- 5 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 assignments -OR- 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 above, applicant must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 1 Ability to assist in the full range of nursing care to patient/resident 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 nursing assistants 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: 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 GS-3/4/5. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight pulling (up to 8 hours); Pushing (up to 8 hours); Reaching above shoulders; Use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 8 hours); standing (up to 8 hours); kneeling (2 to 3 hours); repeated bending (up to 8 hours); both legs required; hearing (aid permitted).

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 Memphis VA Medical Center 1030 Jefferson Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 US
• Name: Rita Tolen
• Phone: 423-979-3565
• Email: [email protected]