The Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina is seeking innovative Nursing Assistants (NA) to become part of our Healthcare Team and provide care to our Nation's Veterans. This position serves in the Emergency Department. The NA will care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions.

Duties

The Nursing Assistant is responsible for the evidence-based care of a group of patients and to perform a very wide range of patient personal care, support diagnostic services, and chart activities on a regular and continual basis on the hospice unit. The incumbent performs duties in such a way as to promote a sense of worth and dignity within each individual such as: Major duties include but are not limited to the following: Performs personal care, diagnostic support duties and treatments according to procedure under the direction of the professional nurse in a timely manner. Responds to patient's nursing needs, including physical comfort, and emotional needs and recognizing deviations from the normal. Will involve patients and family to participate in the provision of care throughout the continuum. Completes assignments in a timely manner with constructive utilization of remaining time. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team, interacting with patients, families, professionals and supportive personnel. Organizes patient care assignments to meet the needs of the patients. Identifies changes in patient condition, both physical and emotional. Reports these in a timely manner and initiates appropriate action. Participates in Health Care Team meetings. Clearly and thoroughly records significant observations and actions on appropriate forms. Completes required patient care documentation and records significant observations and actions utilizing the nursing process in a clear and concise manner. Maintains a safe, clean, therapeutic environment and adheres to infection control guidelines. Prevents injury to self and others by complying with established safety procedures and uses proper body mechanics and transfer techniques. Participates in accomplishing unit maintenance tasks which includes checking equipment to ensure that it is functioning safely. Practices aseptic techniques during sterile procedures. Demonstrates safe work habits, identifies and immediately reports any unsafe conditions to the registered nurse. Identifies any life-threatening environmental hazards immediately, takes appropriate action, and reports findings to the registered nurse. Identifies potential risk and takes necessary precautions to insure the safety of the patient. Uses appropriate equipment for appropriate activity. Treats customers in a courteous and helpful manner that indicates dignity and respect. Communicates, both oral and written, are done in a professional manner and exemplify the mission and vision of this Healthcare System. Interacts with visitors/staff in a courteous, thoughtful, and caring manner using tact, discretion and patience when explaining policies and procedures or assisting in finding an answer to a problem. Displays a helpful, proactive attitude toward customers by answering questions and resolving problems to enhance customer satisfaction. Accepts assignments willingly, volunteers to help others, and works cooperatively and effectively with co-workers and supervisors displaying a helpful, positive attitude. Ensures confidential information is at all times safeguarded. Prevents protected information from being disclosed to unauthorized sources. Maintains a professional attitude by discussing protected information in a private setting. Knows, understands, and consistently complies with VA information security policies, procedures, rules and regulations. Preferred Experience: Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit and/or Acute Care Work Schedule: Compressed/ Flexible

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

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. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/15/2023 Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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.English Language Proficiency. Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Preferred Experience: Certified Nursing Assistant Level I or Certified Nursing Assistant Level II. Hospital Acute Care Nursing Assistant Experience within the last 2 years. Community Nursing Home Patient care within the last 2 years. Demonstrated use of computerized electronic medical record charting and data entry. Long Term Care of Adult Geriatric patients. Demonstrated successful care of the Psychiatric Acute Patient. Preferred Level of Education: High School plus 1- 2 years college in a health-related field. Preferred Certification(s): CNA II Psychiatric or Behavioral Health Certification Grade Determinations: GS-5 [NA] (Full Performance Level) (a) 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, (b) 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(c) Demonstrated 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. References: Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard GS-621 Veterans Health Administration, VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G46. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-05. Physical Requirements: 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. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. 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. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. 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).

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 Durham VA Medical Center 508 Fulton Street Durham, NC 27705 US
• Name: Montrell Gibson
• Phone: 9192860411
• Email: [email protected]