This position is located in Patient Care Services at the Tomah VA Medical Center, Tomah, Wisconsin. The position is responsible for delivering a broad array of health care services throughout the Medical Center, and it's various locations that provide in patient care, such as but not limited to the living centers.

Duties

The Health Aid serves in a developmental capacity at the GS-2 level. Key functions will be similar to those described at the full performance level of the target position (GS-3). However, during the developmental assignment, full performance range and level of selected functions will not be completely delegated to the employee until proper orientation and training have been completed and the incumbent has demonstrated the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to accomplish the work at the full performance level. This is a developmental position which composes a career ladder structure to the target level of a Health Aid, GS-0640-3, PD # 99917S. Advancement to the target level will be recommended only after it has been determined that the incumbent meets all regulatory and statutory requirements, is satisfactorily progressing in the training, is successfully performing the currently assigned range of duties as outlined in the target position and is capable of taking on expanded duties and responsibilities with greater independence. The major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: provide holistic in-patient care to Veterans in a manner conducive to the comfort and safety of those in the facility hospital units, living centers and/or household. ability to provide care for a group of patients/residents of varying ages. ability to determine the differences of both physical and psychological effects of aging and/or physical/mental impairment. provide a range of personal care as needed to include bathing, toileting, hair and nail care, and dressing in personal clothing while maintaining privacy and dignity of inpatient/resident. assist as needed with eating, drinking, positioning/ turning, ambulating, transferring, and escorting inpatients/residents. assists as needed with laundering and distributing resident's personal clothing. use specialized equipment such as ceiling lifters, Maxi lifters, wheelchair movers, steady and electric stretchers according to Safe Patient Handling and Movement Policy. perform a range of clinical support duties, which include taking, recording vital signs and reporting deviations to the RN. perform a complete range of treatment procedures that include applying simple and complex sterile dressing, assists with inpatient/resident examinations and performs simple treatments such as hot and cold soaks, hot and cold packs, topical medications, foot soaks, sitz baths, etc.; checks sterile supplies and topical medications for outdated items and/or broken seals. monitor flow of oxygen, replaces empty tanks, and fills personal use portable oxygen. perform routine tasks that assist in the implementation of leisure and diversional activities and promotes meaningful use of time that enhances independence, positive self-esteem and relaxing leisure experiences. establish and promote effective interpersonal relationships and communications with inpatients/residents, families and others. obtain equipment and supplies and assists the RN and/or medical provider(s) when he/she performs minor medical/surgical procedures when appropriate and within skills and knowledge. report and remove safety hazards; use correct moving and transferring techniques according to Safe Patient Handling and appropriate body mechanics; evacuate inpatient/residents during fire and disaster; make visual check of all inpatient/residents, provides one-to-one observation as directed for assaultive and seriously ill inpatients/residents, and follows facility policy related to suicidal inpatients/residents. prepare, cook, and serve food using VHA Handbook 1109.04, Food Service Management Program and local infection control procedures as needed. Performs other duties as assigned. Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level. Work Schedule: Full-Time, 5:00 AM - 5:30 PM or 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM; 4 days per week. Rotating days of the week to include weekdays, weekends and holidays. Work schedules will be discussed at interview. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Health Aid/PD99617S Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Approved Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/29/2023. 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-02 position you must have served 13 weeks at the GS-01 and for the GS-03, position you must have served 26 weeks at the GS-02. 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. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: GS-2 grade level - General Experience: Three (3) months general experience (any type of work that demonstrates the ability to perform the work or experience that provided familiarity with the subject matter or processes of the broad subject area of the position). Examples of related general experience include (but are not limited to): direct patient care activities; ability to observe, perceive, use judgment, show initiative, and pay attention to detail; ability to take and record vital signs and other information; ability to politely and courteously provide customer service and relay information; and basic knowledge of infection control. OR Applicants may substitute Education for experience required at the GS-2 grade level: Successfully completed high school or equivalent. Education cannot be credited without documentation. Transcripts and/or Student Record Required. OR Applicants may also combine Education and Experience to qualify at the GS-2 grade level: Must possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Transcripts and/or Student Record Required. GS-3 grade level - General Experience: Six (6) months of experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the work of the position or experience that provides a familiarity with the subject matter or is related to the work of the position to be filled. Examples of related general experience include (but are not limited to): direct patient care activities; ability to observe, perceive, use judgment, show initiative, and pay attention to detail; ability to take and record vital signs and other information; ability to politely and courteously provide customer service and relay information; and basic knowledge of infection control. OR Applicants may substitute Education for experience required at the GS-3 grade level: Successfully completed a full 1 year of study that included study in medical, health, or related fields. Transcripts and/or Student Record Required. OR Applicants may also combine Education and Experience to qualify at the GS-3 grade level: Must possess equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education and experience may be used to meet total experience requirements. Transcripts and/or Student Record Required. CommunicationsCustomer ServicePatient CareWork Practices Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing; walking over rough, uneven, or rocky surfaces; recurring bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities; or recurring lifting of moderately heavy items, such as typewriters and record boxes. The work may require specific, but common, physical characteristics and abilities, such as above average agility and dexterity. Work Environment: The "Work Environment" factor considers the risks and discomforts in the employee's physical surroundings, or the nature of the work assigned, and the safety regulations required. Although the use of safety precautions can practically eliminate a certain danger or discomfort, such situations typically place additional demands upon the employee in carrying out safety regulations and techniques. The environment involves everyday risks or discomforts that require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices, meeting and training rooms, libraries, residences, or commercial vehicles, e.g., use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals. The work area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

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 Tomah VA Medical Center 500 East Veterans Street Tomah, WI 54660 US
• Name: Madeline James
• Phone: 504-812-1498
• Email: [email protected]