This position is located in the The 7 East/West Inpatient Psychiatry Unit. The nursing assistant works in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team to provide care to a diverse population of patients. The nursing assistant is a member of the nursing care team who performs specified direct and indirect patient care activities and supportive services under the guidance and direction of licensed staff (Physician, Registered Nurse, and LPN).

Duties

The nursing assistant is a non-licensed member of the nursing care team who performs specified direct and indirect patient care activities and supportive services under the guidance and direction of licensed staff (Physician, Advanced Practice Nurse, Registered Nurse, and LPN). Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: restorative care; transporting and escorting patients; 1 on 1 sitter assignments; activities of daily living, hygiene, nutrition, elimination care; therapeutic and diagnostic measures; observation, reporting, and documentation; performs vital signs, height and weights, and a range of treatment procedures; patient teaching and provisions of a safe patient care environment; practices principles of infection control and environmental safety; utilizes required precautions when working with movable equipment, wet floors, and potential exposure to diagnosed/undiagnosed contagious diseases; etc. The incumbent is responsible for maintaining American Heart Association (AHA) Certification in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) per local facility policy. Physical requirements include extensive periods of standing and walking.Duties involve strenuous physical exertion on a regular basis.Patient care activities require regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing and similar activities using appropriate body mechanics and other assistive devices for patient and/or equipment movement and transfer.The employee protects self and others from injury. Considerable agility and dexterity is required to provide care in a proper and safe manner. Basic Requirements (all grades) Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. 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. 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.

Requirements

Qualifications

Preferred Certification: Certified Nursing Assistant preferred but is not required. Please provide certification with application package. Basic Requirements: The following are the basic requirements and qualifications for this position: United States Citizenship English Language Proficiency GS-3 Basic Requirement - Education or Training (Entry Level): One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation. Transcripts Required OR Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course study of less than one year as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirement. Transcripts Certificate of Completion Required In addition to the basic requirements above, the following is the experience or education in order to qualify as a Nursing Assistant at the GS-5 grade level. GS-5 Grade Requirements: 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 Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 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 Vocation 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 assistants by assisting with 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: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualification Standards. Physical Requirements: Physical requirements include extensive periods of standing and walking. Duties involve strenuous physical exertion on a regular basis. Patient care activities require regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pushing and similar activities using appropriate body mechanics and other assistive devices for patient and/or equipment movement and transfer. The employee protects self and others from injury. Considerable agility and dexterity is required to provide care in a proper and safe manner.

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 Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 820 South Damen Avenue Chicago, IL 60612 US
• Name: Shaundila Bass
• Phone: 312-569-7917
• Email: [email protected]