The Restorative Nursing Assistant (RNA) GS-3 assigned to the Community Living Center (CLC) provides safe and individualized restorative care to complex, frail and mostly elderly residents who are chronically ill in a home environment. The primary practice setting is in the CLC.

Duties

The duties of the Nursing Assistant include, but are not limited to: Performs restorative care modalities including Range of Motion (ROM), Passive ROM (PROM), splint or brace assistance, bed mobility, transfers, ambulation, dressing, grooming, eating, swallowing, amputation/prostheses care, communication, bowel program and bladder program. Uses appropriate mobility, balance and strengthening exercises, as well as incorporating these into activities of daily living. Utilizes task segmentation in assisting residents to complete AOL's and appropriate use of assistive and adaptive equipment. Ensures residents use of proper shoes, eyeglasses and hearing aid if required by resident. Maintains resident's personal hygiene, including planning the task and gathering supplies, combing and/or styling hair, washing face and hands, brushing teeth, shaving, or applying make-up, oral hygiene, self-manicure (safety awareness with nail care), and/or application of deodorant or powder. Improves or maintains the resident's self-performance donning and doffing prosthesis, caring for the prosthesis, and providing appropriate hygiene at the site where the prosthesis attaches to the body". Performs, assist or cues for appropriate dental mouth hygiene and understands the correlation between mouth care and pneumonia. Utilizes "Mouth Care without a Battle" techniques as established. Utilizes "Bathing Without a Battle" (BWB) techniques, as needed. Monitors for need of tracheostomy care and notifies RN or LPN to perform procedure. Assures oxygen therapy is connected as per order. Positions resident to promote breathing and to maintain airway. Monitors for signs and symptoms of constipation including bowel movement patterns. Implements nursing interventions to prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) including Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI). Always maintains urinary drainage bags covered, fixed, below bladder level and less than half full. Implements skin and wound care program interventions as per policy including but not limited to: (1) Skin inspection during care activities. (2) Turning and repositioning program interventions, (3) Interventions to reduce friction and shear, (4) Management of incontinence associated dermatitis, (5) Applying preventive dressings in bony prominences, (6) Placing pressure redistribution support surfaces, (7) Prevention of Skin Tears. Ensures/encourages residents to be out of bed/room in civilian clothing. Uses principles of body mechanics and utilizes safe resident handling and management techniques. Enhances and/or maintains resident's dignity by maintaining feet/hand nails trimmed and clean. Demonstrates basic knowledge in care of residents with psychotropic medications, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hemodialysis, and other specialized treatments. Monitors for and ensures proper management of side effects related to specialized treatments. Demonstrates knowledge and skills to care for residents at the end-of-life process; incorporates the resident's family member in the plan of care especially offering emotional/spiritual support during the dying process. Provides basic psychiatric nursing care procedures of listening, reassuring, motivating, encouraging, observing, and communicating. Encourages and assists residents in re-socialization activities on or off the unit. Assists in preventing and handling of disturbed behavior. Recognizes emergency situations and change in the resident's condition that require immediate notification to the RN and/or provider. Utilizes the STOP AND WATCH hand-off communication for immediate notification. Initiates BLS if necessary and calls for assistance Work Schedule: Rotation of tours, including weekends and holidays. Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00445F, 00446F & 00447F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. 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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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. English Language Proficiency. NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English. Grandfathering Provisions. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-3 NA (Entry Level) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 NA 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; AND, 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) 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, 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, In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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: 1. 3-5 years of current Nursing Assistant Experience. 2. 1-2 years of Nursing Assistant experience in a long term/skilled nursing care facility. 3. Nursing Assistant certification highly preferred. 4. Communicates effectively with clients, peers, and other health care professionals. 5. Motivate residents with chronic multiple illnesses. 6. Plan, organize and complete assignments within the scheduled shift. 7. Experienced in infection prevention procedures, safety procedures and long-term care regulations. References: VA Handbook 5005/81 Part II Appendix G46. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS3 to GS5. Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

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 GV Sonny Montgomery VAMC 1500 East Woodrow Wilson Drive Jackson, MS 39216 US
• Name: Richard Cohen
• Phone: 504-422-9343
• Email: [email protected]