The Cincinnati, OH VA Medical Center is seeking 14 qualified Nursing Assistants for our Community Living Center (CLC). If you are interested in a career that offers professional/work life balance in a supportive clinical learning environment, providing integrated patient-centered, state-of-the-art care to Veterans, we welcome you to apply to be part of the Cincinnati VA team! Bargaining Unit Position

Duties

The VA has been named as one of the Top 5 Best Places to Work in the federal government. With both an urban energy and southern charm, the Cincinnati region has a vibrant and unique culture that flows from the Ohio River to the things to do, landmarks and events all around town. With rich cultural offerings, award-winning family adventures, an ever-expanding art scene, a foodie's paradise, and breweries galore, this is one picturesque river region with much to explore! With major league sports, big-city arts, fun festivals and award-winning attractions, it can be hard to decide what to do in our dynamic river region!https://www.frommers.com/destinations/cincinnati NURSING ASSISTANT - CLC: These positions are in Community Living Center (CLC), Nursing and Patient Care Services at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center. Incumbent assist patient care to patients who may require medical and/or psychiatric nursing care under the indirect supervision of the LPN and/or RN. The Community Living Center consist of the geriatric population wards for Hospice, Long-Term care, Dementia and Short-Term Rehab residents. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NA's are at the entry level and are closely supervised to improve care. He/she will be provided with opportunities to develop basic nursing skills to provide care for the Veterans with acute and chronic conditions in a health care setting. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NA's provide care under close supervision and refer issues and questions to supervisors, higher graded NA's, and licensed nursing staff. The NA GS-3 is learning to provide each CLC resident with the person-centered, individualized care he/she requires according to the interdisciplinary plan of care and understands that the primary role is to protect, sustain, and nurture the resident and to maximize each resident's quality of life by providing assistance as needed with activities of daily living, engaging the resident in meaningful planned and spontaneous activities, and helping the resident meet rehabilitative and/or restorative nursing goals. He/she takes an active role in identifying his/her own educational needs and continually updates clinical skills. The Community Living Center Nursing Assistant participates in Extended Care Service and Medical Center committees representing nursing as assigned. Primary Duties: - Safely provides treatments in accordance with policy. Provides personal nursing care, diagnostic support duties and treatments with assistance as needed. Reports patient condition to the Charge Nurse, LPN and/or provider. - Under the direction of the RN and/or LPN maintains the gravity drainage system once the ballooned Foley catheter has been inserted by the RN or LPN and observes for patency, reporting catheter blockage or poor urinary output and ensuring that the catheter is secured to prevent tension. Empties urinary drainage collection systems and records output each 8- hour shift according to Medical Center policy. Provides ongoing catheter care (Foley/suprapubic) according to procedural requirements. - Under the direction of the RN and/or LPN provides ostomy skin care and applies ostomy care appliances. - Observes and reports signs of physical, cognitive, or behavioral changes to RN or LPN promptly and documents observations in CPRS. - Ensures that Veterans at risk for pressure ulcer development and with mobility impairments have opportunities throughout the day to relieve sacral/coccygeal pressure through scheduled naps and position changes when in chairs and implements consistent turning schedules when Veterans at risk for pressure ulcer development are in bed. - Ensures that when Veterans are placed on specialty beds or overlay mattresses that the control mechanisms for these beds are set correctly and that the bed or mattress is consistently functioning properly. Documents the provision of this care. - Responds quickly to emergency situations and in crisis situations. Intervenes appropriately in accordance with proper procedure (e.g., initiates psychiatric emergencies, initiates cardiopulmonary resuscitation, responds appropriately to fire emergency, responds appropriately to a severe weather alert). Maintains Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification and completes all mandatory or required VACO, VHA, VISN 10, Medical Center, Nursing, and Extended Care Service training requirements within required time frames (e.g., Talent Management System). - Tracks expiration date of his/her own BLS card and ensure recertification occurs before current certification expires. - Other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: 12 hour shift day and night availability Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Title/Functional Statement #:Nursing Assistant/PD91357A 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: 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. NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3. 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). Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a Nursing Assistant is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a Nursing Assistant employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. Grade Determinations: GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level) -Specialized Experience: (a) Experience [and] Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-4 Nursing Assistant - Specialized Experience: (a) Experience. One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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,(b) 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(c) 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/residents2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or residents' 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 Nursing Assistant (Full Performance Level) -Specialized Experience: (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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 Nursing Assistant 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. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. The population of male and female veterans served ranges from adult, age 18, to the elderly adult, age 65 and over. The VA Medical center is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility, serving medical, surgical, and neurological inpatients and outpatients. There is a large outpatient psychiatric population, with admissions for medical co-morbidities. This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continues walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The Nursing Assistant may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The Nursing Assistant may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The Nursing Assistant must be capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant qualification Standard 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.

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 Cincinnati VA Medical Center 3200 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45220 US
• Name: Amber Clark
• Email: [email protected]