OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors- by serving and honoring America's Veterans. How would you like to become a part of a team providing compassionate care to Veterans?

Duties

This position serves as a Nursing Assistant for the Madison VA Medical Center at one of the following locations: The Inpatient Acute Medical/Surgical Unit (1B) - a 12 bed multi-service unit, which includes primarily geriatric medical patients with a specialty in chronic medical conditions. Community Living Center (CLC) - a 14-bed sub-acute, short stay, extended care environment consisting of Transitional, Hospice/Palliative, and Rehabilitation care neighborhoods with an average length of stay (ALOS) of less than 30 days. Major Nursing Assistant duties include, but are not limited to: - Provides patients with the appropriate level of assistance with activities of daily living, bathing, dressing, transferring, ambulating, feeding, and toileting. - Obtains blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and blood glucose (finger stick) and records them appropriately in the medical record. - Weighs patients and records them appropriately in the medical record. - Assists during emergency treatment situations obtaining equipment as necessary and running errands as needed. - Transports patients as assigned off the unit for various diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. - Assists the team in reinforcing educational needs with patients. - Performs other duties as assigned, such as phlebotomy and 12-Lead EKGs. - Understands and demonstrates behavior that reflects that each patient is an individual with needs that vary, particularly according to his/her age. - Understands the appropriate body mechanics to safely move patients using a variety of lifts/transfer devices. - Applies and operates specialized equipment for residents (patients), e.g., prosthetic appliances, patient mobility devices, etc. - Recognizes and reports potential safety hazards. - Initiates emergency measures to protect patients. - Maintains patient rooms and unit areas in a clean and orderly fashion. - Assists in provision of a safe environment for patients with memory deficits, orientation problems and acting-out behavior. The CLC/1B Activity Assistant (AA) is a Nursing Assistant who is directly accountable to the unit Nurse Manager. The AA functions as a nursing assistant and is in partnership with unit nursing staff (RN and NA's), Recreational Therapist (RT), and volunteer services to plan and implement activities in a short-term care setting. The AA is responsible for delivering activities that are designed to promote socialization, diversion, relaxation, and entertainment to veterans in the CLC/1B unit. The AA will work in collaboration with team members to plan activities, as well as handling logistics of activities, such as scheduling guests, logistics of location, demonstrating activities, and ensuring veteran safety. Position Responsibilities: - Ensures compliance with current professional standards, federal, and local regulations and facility policies and procedures. - Assist nursing personnel in providing a veteran activities program that direct care within the scope of training and requirements - Contributes to maintenance of a clean, safe environment to minimize hazards of infection or injury to veterans. - Plan, develop, organize, implement, and direct an activities program. - Develops monthly activity calendars. - Collaborates with the Interdisciplinary Team to implement individualized care plan for each Veteran. - Help facilitate activities including, but not limited to painting, trivia, bingo, music, horticultural therapy, assortment of games, serving meals, and snacks. - Assists or leads the participants in group activities, such as an exercise class or art project - Assist with performance of patient needs under the assistance of RN/PT/OTto include range of motion, ambulation, and transfers. - Prepares equipment and materials for planned activities and ensures the safety of residents in the activity - Attends scheduled interdisciplinary team meetings - Coordinates activity programs with Recreational Therapist to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, VA applicants must meet all requirements within 15 days of the closing date of this announcement,12/31/2023 Basic Requirements: US Citizenship is required. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, paragraph 3.g.). ENGLISH: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English. Education or Training: Must possess one year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation OR Must have completed an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than 1 year as a Nursing Assistant. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE, YOU MUST MEET THE GRADE REQUIREMENTS AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GRADE LEVELS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION. GS - 03: Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS - 04: Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. Experience: One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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 - 05: This is the full performance level for NAs. 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 AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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.

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 William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital 2500 Overlook Terrace Madison, WI 53705 US
• Name: Emily Couch
• Phone: 447-792-0907
• Email: [email protected]