The Cincinnati, OH VA Medical Center is recruiting for a full time Nursing Assistant to work on the Community Living Center (CLC)/Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC) team. This team consists of health care providers caring for a diverse age range of veterans admitted to our facility at various stages of life. The goal of the CLC is to transform a hospital like environment into an innovative home that improves quality of life while enhancing both privacy and social connections.

Duties

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center is a two-division campus located in Cincinnati, Ohio and Fort Thomas, Kentucky serving 15 counties in Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana with 6 Community Based Outpatient Clinics located in Bellevue, KY; Florence, KY; Lawrenceburg, IN; Hamilton, OH; Clermont County, OH, and Georgetown, OH. Cincinnati VAMC also supports two off main campus locations in the Cincinnati area via an Eye Center and Mental Health Outreach Community Division. This Nursing Assistant (NA) gives direct patient care to patients who may require medical and/or psychiatric nursing care under the indirect supervision of the registered nurse and provides personal care to assigned patients as delegated from the RN, which will provide for their comfort and safety and facilitate the function of the Nursing Service. The Nursing Assistant is expected to operate in accordance with all established policies, procedure and techniques as appropriate to the role. Responsibilities include but, are not limited to: Assists with patient activities of daily living such as: ambulation, personal care such as bathing skin care, shaving, oral hygiene, feeding, and escort duties, measure and record oral intake and urinary output, vital signs, weights, collection of routine specimens, and answering of call lights. Obtains and reports information regarding patients' condition to Team Leader &/or Charge nurse, (i.e. vomiting, bleeding, type and amount of drainage, skin integrity, patency of airway, change in vital signs, pain level, whole blood glucose, change in mental status, etc.) and records appropriate data. Maintains safe environment by protecting patient from physical injury to self or others. Demonstrate increasing skills in relation to others and in motivating patients. Performs a wide variety of duties aimed at increasing the comfort and spirit of the patient. Provides escort (transport) service for patients requiring assistance. Actively participates interdisciplinary care plan meetings and makes suggestions to enhance the patient specific care plan. Knowledge and understanding of the call light system, using Vocera, phones and call lights Uses written documentation worksheets to record observations and finding, chart appropriate values into Electronic Health Record, as well as to report to the RN Completes bedside report at the beginning and end of every shift Transports patients throughout the CLC and Medical Center. Documents weekly progress notes as assigned at the CLC. (Complete CLC RESIDENT Daily care summary in CPRS providing accurate BM dates/restorative). When CLC patients are admitted to the hospital or expires, belongings are packed, labeled and an email is sent to EMS to pick-up belongings and cleans the unit. Ensure that patients are prepared and ready to attend appointments for therapy and group activities. Inserts suppositories, applies fecal incontinence collectors and retracted penis pouch. Inserts indwelling Foley catheters and intermittent urinary catheters and Removes Foley catheters Irrigates colostomies and reports to RN & documents results in EHR. Obtains and labels specimens, call appropriate service to bring to the lab. Attend care conference, attend End of shift Huddle. Irrigates nasogastric tubes and recognizes the character of the drainage. Complete and document appropriately Restorative Care CLC. Log patient belongings in on admission and sign admission packet upon completion Assist residents with meals as needed- bring residents who are feeds/aspiration risks to dining room. Makes rounds at the beginning and end of shift. (as well as during shift and as needed or prn). Completes bedside report at the beginning & end of every shift (if no aide on previous shift, receive report from off-going charge nurse) CLC - Group Report. Clean and strip room after patient has been transported to the morgue, post room number on hall board and call EMS to clean the room. Participates in mandatory and other in-services, unit conferences, and other self-development activities. Completes TMS and all annual competencies. Responsible for demonstrating and maintaining full competency in the use, pre-cleaning and/or reprocessing of reusable medical equipment. Recognize limitations and seek guidance when unexpected situations arise. Maintains good public relations and communicates effectively with the Veterans, their families, community organizations and unit coworkers. May be expected to supplement Medical Center Entry Screeners for COVID-19 Work Schedule: either day shift or night shift. Hours 7:30am-8pm or 7:30pm to 8am Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

The following are requirements for appointment as a Nursing Assistant (NA) in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). These requirements apply to all VHA NAs in the GS-621 series. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: United States Citizenship: Must be a citizen of the United States 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. (Must provide a copy of transcripts and/or certificate) 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 3. GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Creditable Experience: (1) Knowledge of Current Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice. (2) 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. (3) 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 meeting all of the above basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-3 (Entry Level): Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-4: 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. (Must provide transcripts) AND In addition to the above experience/education, 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. Assignment for the GS 4: Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. NA's 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. 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 (Full Performance Level): 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. (Must provide transcripts) AND In addition to the above experience/education, 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. Assignment for the GS 5. 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, March 12, 2015. 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: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. The population of male and female veterans served range from the adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. The VA Medical Center is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population with admissions for medical co-morbidities. 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 incumbent 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 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 Cincinnati VA Medical Center 3200 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45220 US
• Name: Jessica Schwarz
• Phone: 513-371-9067
• Email: [email protected]