The Nursing Assistant (NA) Home Health Aide/Homemaker serves in a Home Health setting and is organizationally responsible to the assigned Nurse Manager, providing direct patient care to Veterans in the home setting. The Home Health Aide/Homemaker provides direct patient care to Veterans in the home setting who require assistance with Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, while adhering to Sioux Falls Veteran Affairs Health Care System policies and procedures.

Duties

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until 11/30/2023and may be extended until all vacancies are filled. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be 10/25/2023. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Sioux Falls VA Health Care System is part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23). The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being. The Nursing Assistant (NA) Home Health Aide/Homemaker serves in a Home Health setting and is organizationally responsible to the assigned Nurse Manager, providing direct patient care to Veterans in the home setting. The Home Health Aide/Homemaker provides direct patient care to Veterans in the home setting who require assistance with Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, while adhering to Sioux Falls Veteran Affairs Health Care System policies and procedures. He/she is responsible for delivering safe, physical and emotional care to residents in a variety of settings, while becoming familiar with technical nursing skills. Duties include, but are not limited to the following: Performs a variety of nursing care activities which include bathing, feeding, oral care and related personal hygiene duties. Assists with range of motion (ROM), ambulation, position and turn Veterans Recognizes and properly use equipment, materials, and supplies to carry out procedures and other assignments under the direction of the RN delegation. Applies slings and braces as needed Provide simple/light meal preparation/assistance and reports any nutritional concerns to the RN May be asked to provide simple/light housekeeping tasks to include dust, vacuum, sweep, straighten up, wash dishes, clean the bathroom/kitchen, do laundry, dispose of trash, and change linens. Assists with bladder and bowel elimination, observing, reporting and recording Veteran bowel and bladder function. Perform diagnostic support duties such as collection of specimens: stool, urine, sputum Serve as a responsible member of the nursing team requiring interaction with Veterans, Families, professional personnel, support personnel, and members of other services; responding to concerns in a manner that is effective and improve customer satisfaction. Responsible for charting on assigned templates in CPRS for assigned Veterans on a daily basis. Maintains valid drivers license and pass employee health physical as needed. Previous home health or patient care technician experience preferred but not required. Work Schedule: Day Shift, 0700-1530 or 0730-1600 Telework: Ad-Hoc, as determined by agency policy Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Physical Requirements: You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.

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: 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. Note: A copy of college transcripts showing completion of one year of education above high school related to the NA occupation, or documentation showing completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant (e.g., Nurse Aid Certificate) is required at the time of application. Grandfathering Provisions: All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard (March 12, 2015) 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. Grade Determinations: 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 through GS-5. In addition to the basic requirements stated above, the qualification criteria outlined below must be met for each grade. To receive full consideration at the GS-4 and -5 levels, your application must clearly demonstrate the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) described below. GS-3 - Entry Level Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-4 - Developmental Level 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 (transcripts required). AND 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. 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs listed 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 (transcripts required). AND 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. 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.

Education

IMPORTANT: This position has a positive education or training requirement. An unofficial copy of college transcripts showing completion of one year of education above high school related to the Nursing Assistant occupation or documentation showing completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant is required at the time of application. If basing your qualifications on education at the GS-4 or-5 levels, you must submit a copy of all relevant transcripts with your application. You do not need to submit an official copy; however, your submitted transcript must include your name, name of school, name of program, total credits completed, date degree/certificate conferred. Your transcript will be reviewed for relevant coursework; therefore, the copy you submit must be legible.


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 Royal C Johnson Veterans Memorial Hospital 2501 West 22nd Street Sioux Falls, SD 57105 US
• Name: Melinda Kuehl
• Phone: 6057452000 X22163
• Email: [email protected]