The Nursing Assistant for Spinal Cord Injury is responsible for the delivery of patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse, Advanced Practice Nurse / Physician Assistant, or Physician. Practices within the scope and certification of a CNA in the nursing unit, clinic, area of assignment and demonstrates consistent practice when temporarily assigned to related nursing units and clinics. (SCI North)

Duties

- Practices within the scope and certification of a CNA in the nursing unit, clinic, area of assignment and demonstrates consistent practice when temporarily assigned to related nursing units and clinics. - Provides care and services to multiple populations served and admitted to the nursing unit, clinic, area of assignment as determined by the patient/resident need for nursing care and services. - Provides care of patients/residents and their environment contributing to optimizing patient/resident outcomes as a member of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team. - Provides direct patient/resident care in the provision of the psychological, physical, social and cultural activities of daily living, complete and supportive. - Provides for the care of patients/residents with dignity and continuous consideration of the individuals emotional needs. - Provides reporting, communication and documentation in the computerized patient record system with other members of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team. - Maintains certification, BCLS, and currency in required education and training as identified by regulating agencies, Hines VA Hospital, VISN and National Agencies. - The NA demonstrates competency and consistency in the technical use of equipment, application of technical standards and performance of administrative support duties. - Demonstrates competency in all GS 3 and GS 4 NA skills and but not limited to: Sterile surgical dressing changes including but not limited to dry dressing over the gastrostomy tube, and any dressing that do not include treatments. Care of patients with PICCs and CVCs, Care of patients with chest tubes, ventilator patients, tracheotomy patients, and assists with leading patient activity groups. - The NA demonstrates knowledge of and compliance with standard operating procedures for the maintenance of reusable medical equipment. - The NA participates in Medical Center activities and demonstrates skills and behaviors that provide and promote positive internal and external customer relationships. - The NA attends unit level and Medical Center meetings and develops as an employee to support committee participation. - The NA maintains patient/resident safety standards assuring patient /resident privacy, patient/resident physical safety, and patient/resident psychological safety. - The NA establishes working relationships with multi-disciplinary and multi-level members of the work team promoting the physical, psychological and emotional safety of the working environment for all team members. - The NA provides assistance and support to the Registered Nurse and/or provider within the scope of the CNA certification/grade and consistent with Medical Center policy. - The NA demonstrates the knowledge and skills to provide care and services consistent with Infection Control Standards of Practice providing optimal outcomes for patients, residents, visitors and employees. - The NA recognizes, responds and initiates appropriate level response to medical emergency such as cardiac and/or respiratory failure. - The incumbent practices good customer service in all work activities. Must be poised and articulate in communicating with people of varied educational levels and varied ethnic backgrounds. - Makes caring for the veteran his/her priority while in the work setting and demonstrated customer service principles in all aspects of work. - Willing to work cooperatively as a member of a team in all assignments. - Works closely within the department of nursing to provide a warm hand off when patients transition from an outpatient to an inpatient status. Other duties as assigned by supervisor. Work Schedule: 7:30pm-8:00am or 7:30am-8:00pm with rotation weekends, shifts and holidays. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Education or Training: Must possess one year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation, OR completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant. (TRANSCRIPTS or CERTIFICATION REQUIRED) In addition to meeting the basic requirements, you must meet the following. GRADE REQUIREMENTS: GS-3 Level:None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 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 In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): 1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. 2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. 3. 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. 4. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 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; 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 In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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. Preferred experience: 1 year Spinal cord/Med surg experience preferred. References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46. The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to a GS-5. Physical Requirements: Physical requirements-See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

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 Edward Hines Junior Hospital 5000 South 5th Avenue Hines, IL 60141 US
• Name: Frankie Fessler-Boylan
• Phone: 515-868-4959
• Email: [email protected]