The primary purpose of the Nursing Assistant (NA) position is to promote recovery, provide a safe and supported environment for healing and assist with daily living activities such as oral care, hair grooming, bathing, and assisting with meals as needed, while meeting the safety requirements of the Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU).

Duties

Duties include, but are not limited to: Assist in the full range of nursing care for Veterans with behavioral and/or physical problems under the direction of a Registered Nurse and/or Licensed Practical Nurse. Provide daily living activities such as assisting residents with daily oral care (dentures, tooth brush), hair grooming, bathing, nail and related hygiene care. Set up, serve and monitor veteran meals, lift, turn, and transfer residents with appropriate technique and lifting assistance devices. Prepare and transport patients as needed for tests, procedures or discharge. Notify nursing of any physical or behavior changes. Document these changes using proper documentation forums. Use computer, computer programs, phone, xerox and fax machines. Conduct other duties as required to provide Veterans with quality care outcomes. Assist with a complete range of treatment and procedures that include but is not limited to the following: leading or assisting group therapy; environmental safety checks, management of hazardous items, patient belonging inventory, administering hot and cold packs; accuchecks; application of EKG leads and providing 1:1 monitoring of patients with altered mental status, suicidal/homicidal ideation, or identified as high risk and in need of constant supervision. Perform a range of diagnostic support duties which includes taking, recording, and reporting deviations in vital signs, taking specimens, labeling specimens for the laboratory, and assisting the provider in a variety of diagnostic exams. Consistently makes gross accurate observations of the veteran's condition and reports and documents findings. Identify and report the veteran's physical and emotional reactions to treatment and nursing care. Verbally provide veteran information to the licensed staff for inclusion in the nursing care plan. Enter information about the veteran's condition in the veteran's written and/or electronic records following Patient Care Services (PCS) policies. Communicate effectively with Veterans, families, interdisciplinary team members and other staff personnel. Act in a professional manner as a role model for peers. Serve as a preceptor to new NAs by assisting with employee orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting. Maintain appropriate and professional boundaries with patients and their families. Communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to meet APU objectives. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to the supervisor. Utilize population, cultural, age-specific communication techniques to provide effective communication with APU Veterans and visitors. Instruct Veterans on the veteran's role in various tests, such as x-rays, covering information previously supplied by the doctor or nurse. Instructs veteran on the set up and purpose of treatment supported by auxiliary equipment such as oxygen and suction. Supports Veteran teaching based on evidence-based, general information covered with the veteran previously by either the doctor or nurse. Utilize Veteran teaching opportunities with awareness of psychiatric treatment goals. Identify teaching needs and institute approaches to meet these. Provide restorative care and therapeutic activities based on the APU goals. Restorative Care refers to nursing interventions that promote the Veterans ability to adapt and adjust to living as independently and safely as is possible. This concept actively focuses on achieving and maintaining optimal physical, mental, and psychosocial functioning. Recognize and react to emergent Veteran care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance. For example, recognize the need for basic life support, control bleeding and assist with behavior crisis, etc. Work Schedule: Variable 12 hour night Tours, 7PM - 7:30AM, may include weekends and holidays Compressed/Flexible:Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

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: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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. 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. 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). Grade Determinations: GS-3 NA (Entry Level) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-4 NA 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; AND Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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. Assignment 1. Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs or other healthcare professionals. 2. In this role, the Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care, or other patients who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The Nursing Assistant in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded NAs, or other healthcare professionals. GS-5 NA (Full Performance 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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c) below; 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 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. Assignment. This is the full performance level for NAs. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. NAs at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role. References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, March 12, 2015 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5. Physical Requirements: This position involves considerable amount of standing (up to 2 hours), walking (up to 6 hours), stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and turning. It requires repositioning patients, assisting with transfers from wheelchairs/stretchers and transporting them to other departments or facilities. Mechanical devices are available and are required to be used for heavy or difficult to lift clients. The work may involve pushing or lifting in excess of 45 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. The position requires visual (corrected to 20/30 or better with color discrimination) and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective nursing care. The position requires the nurse to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with neck in a fully flexed or extended position. The nurse may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia or psychiatric disorders. The nurse many be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The incumbent must possess sound and logical clinical judgment. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The position also requires ability to work on computers for extended periods of time.

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 Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4815 North Assembly Street Spokane, WA 99205 US
• Name: Hector Jebulan
• Phone: (253) 582-8440 X75538
• Email: [email protected]