The Nursing Assistant is an integral part of the care team in providing care to the veterans that the Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility serves. The Nursing Assistant is responsible for the delivery of patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse, Advanced Practice Nurse / Physician Assistant, or Physician.

Duties

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES: This summary is neither inclusive nor exclusive of duties and responsibilities of the NA as a recognized essential member of the health care team duties and responsibilities assigned are consistent with the certification, skill and knowledge of the NA GS - 5. Performs a complete range of treatment procedures such as routine urinary catheter care; including external catheter placements; application of cold and heat; changing simple dressings; and irrigation of a healed colostomy. Additionally, performs selected treatments such as foot-soaks; performs basic care for patients requiring the use of isolation techniques. Recognizes life-threatening situations and initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation as needed. Alerts the nurse to changes in the patient's condition and assists in emergency treatment. Participates in nursing care conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings, using good judgment in identifying and reporting patient problems, planning individual care, and discharge planning. Suggests feasible means to meet patient needs. Provides comfort care and hygiene to patients to include bathing, hair and nail care, oral hygiene, and skin care. Positions patients for comfort and therapy. Assists with feeding and maintains a safe, clean, pleasant patient environment. Assists patients in walking, moving, and changing position by supporting and turning them. Accompanies patients to other areas of the hospital. Takes vital signs; i.e., blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate and temperature, measures height and weight, and measures intake and output. Carries out specified procedures such as irrigations, care of drainage tubes, suctioning, and administration of oxygen. Knowledge and ability to perform restorative functions. Changes or assists with the changing of dressings, both sterile and clean. Assists the physician and/or nurse with complex procedures, gathering the required items, comforting the patient, monitoring patient physical status, and passing instruments and supplies. Assists in post­ mortem care. Obtains laboratory specimens for testing including urine, stool, sputum and nasogastric tube specimens. Performs capillary glucose testing by glucometer, if applicable. Fills out lab slips accurately and sends specimens to the laboratory. Uses the approved method to record and report patient care including obvious physical and/or behavioral changes of patients, vital signs, as well as less obvious and more complex changes such as non-verbal cues; e.g., early signs of skin breakdown, slight drooling of the mouth; changes in sensorium in the medical record. Maintains flow sheets and patient records, documenting patient care as per expected standards.Maintains a safe patient environment, recognizing hazards and taking corrective action. Participates in the orientation of newly assigned personnel. Assists in stocking, replacing and rotating of supplies. Sets up, operates, performs minor maintenance and upkeep, cleans and properly stores equipment. Adheres to safety practices concerning patient care; maintains a safe clean environment in the use and maintenance of equipment and supplies, as well as takes action to correct less obvious hazards, and makes suggestions for improving current equipment and environment. Knowledge of a body of standardized rules and skill sufficient to perform procedures requiring considerable training and experience to carry out nursing care and resolve recurring problems relative to personal nursing care, diagnostic services, patient treatment, charting and safety. At this level, the incumbent is required to complete an advanced course of instruction. Provides Resident Centered Care: VA CLCs are committed to providing resident-centered care. Resident-centered care identifies an approach to providing health care where the treatment plan is driven by the needs, preferences, and life-long habits of the resident. Care is individualized to each resident, and the resident is a participant in their own care when possible. Attention is paid to ensure that care meets the age-appropriate, cultural, and religious needs and preferences of each Veteran. Utilizes effective communication with patients, families, visitors, and members of the interdisciplinary team, including the patient in mutual goal setting, and providing patient advocacy when appropriate. Visibly demonstrates the ICARE (Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence) Core Values in interactions with Veterans, staff, and other stakeholders. Performs other related duties as assigned. Certification as a CNA by a State is preferred but not a basic requirement for all grade levels. Work Schedule: Full-Time. 8:00am- 4:30pm (may include rotating weekends and holidays.) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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:(a) Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Noncitizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) (b) 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 3j. (c) 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. Certification as a CNA by a State is preferred but not a basic requirement for all grade levels. Current, Permanent VA/VHA Employees must upload a copy of the most recent SF-50 (that is not for an award), indicating current VA/VHA employment. Applicant must have 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 noted in VA Handbook 5005/71, Part II, Appendix G46. Demonstrated KSA's Ability to assist in a full range of nursing care to patients/residents with physical and/or behavioral problems in a long-term care/rehabilitation 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 or personnel. This includes serving as 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. · OR: Education: Successful completion of a four-year course 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 demonstrate the professional KSAs noted in VA Handbook 5005/71, Part II, Appendix G46. Customer Service Requirements: The incumbent meets the needs of customers while supporting the Medical Center and Service missions. Consistently communicates and treats customers (patients, visitors, volunteers, and all Medical Center staff) in a courteous, tactful, and respectful manner. The incumbent provides the customer with consistent information according to established policies and procedures. Handles conflict and problems in dealing with the customer constructively and appropriately. Age Specific Competencies:The incumbent must be able to deliver age specific/population specific care, as identified in the competency checklist, including knowledge of changes associated with aging and principles of growth and development relevant to the adult, female, and geriatric age groups; ability to assess and interpret data about the patient's status; and ability to identify age-specific/population specific needs and provide the appropriate care based upon the age-related factors noted. Computer Security Requirements: The incumbent manages information security within areas of responsibility to assure that computer system security and confidentiality of sensitive information is maintained, and that access to sensitive information is limited only to that which the employee requires to perform their duties. Takes action as necessary to report and address violations of information security. 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).The full performance level of this vacancy is 5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 3 to 5. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting and carrying, strait pulling, pulling hand over hand, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers and both hands/legs/eyes (limb prosthesis allowed if functionally equivalent), walking and standing, crawling and kneeling, repeated bending, climbing, hearing (aid permitted), ability to perform PMDB and BLS, patient lifting (mechanical assistance available), emotional and mental stability, ability to read medication labels and equipment manuals, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

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 Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 325 East H Street Iron Mountain, MI 49801 US
• Name: Jeremy Burton
• Phone: 7089010850
• Email: [email protected]