The GS-5 STRIDE Nursing Assistant completes tasks in a skillful manner, developing an increased skill and knowledge regarding the therapeutic aspects of the STRIDE program. The STRIDE Nursing Assistant works under the direction of the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Services (PMRS) Physical Therapist and the STRIDE Registered Nurse Program Coordinator in early mobilization of Veterans.

Duties

Duties include, but not limited to: Ambulates Veterans as directed. Demonstrates ability to work and communicate effectively with patients, families, co-workers, and other health care professionals to promote the highest possible function of the Veteran. Performs ongoing review of patients with a variety of diagnosis regarding physical and functional status while ambulating. Ability to vary the order and sequence of assigned duties based on the patient's condition and accurately and consistently reports and documents significant and pertinent patient information. Identifies when the patient is approaching their maximum level of ambulatory function. Communicates with the RN STRIDE Program Coordinator for facilitation of discharge planning and further input. Identifies negative physiologic responses during ambulation and reports to patient's Registered Nurse. While promoting STRIDE goals and objectives, other patient outcomes such as fall prevention and pressure injury prevention are implemented. Obtains and records temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respirations, pulse oximetry before, during and after ambulation. The STRIDE NA also assists in the care of the acutely ill and more complex patients by assisting in their care. The STRIDE NA ensures the patient is prepared to ambulate with safety measures in place and assists the Veteran with ambulation. Reinforces patient education and provides support and guidance to the patient. Demonstrates skill, knowledge, and ability to perform treatments and procedures on the inpatient units; assists nursing staff on the units as assigned. Participates actively in mandatory reviews, unit meetings, and the STRIDE Program meetings. Moderate to heavy lifting may be required daily. Safe Patient Handling equipment must be used when appropriate. Work Schedule: Rotational Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process
• Participation in the seasonal influenza and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccination programs are requirements for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

Qualifications

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. 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. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs. and over); Heavy carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight pulling (up to 8 hours); Pushing (up to 8 hours); Reaching above shoulders; Use of fingers; both hands required; walking (up to 8 hours); standing (up to 8 hours); kneeling (2 to 3 hours); repeated bending (up to 8 hours); both legs required; hearing (aid permitted). 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. Grandfathering Provisions. All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard (3/26/2014) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (2) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation. Preferred Experience: Specialized Experience is experience which is in or directly related to the duties of the position to be filled such as non professional nursing care, work in a hospital, outpatient clinic, nursing home, or other medical, nursing, or patient care facility, or in such work as that of a home health aid. While working in the above areas the duties must have included technical and medical support functions such as personal care needs, i.e bathing, feeding lifting, taking vital signs collecting specimens or other functions which has equipped the applicant with the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties as described in this announcement. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. Grade Determinations:GS-3 No specialized experience beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant or experience in another medical field, 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 - 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. In addition to the above, applicant must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 1 Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patient/residents. 2 Ability to observe patients/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 patient / residents, their families and other health professionals. Experience and Education Requirements: To qualify at the GS-5 level (Full-performance): (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 KSAs. 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. 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. 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, Pat II, Appendix G46 Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard GS-621 Veterans Health Administration Note: The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-5. Promotion is not guaranteed nor implied. Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5005, Part III, Chapter 2, paragraph 7, and VA Handbook 5019, Occupational Health Services. All applicants must be physically and mentally able to perform efficiently the duties of the position. Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over; Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; straight pulling; pushing; reaching above shoulder; use of fingers; both hands required; walking; standing; kneeling; repeated bending; climbing, use of legs and arms; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted).

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 James H Quillen VA Medical Center Corner of Lamont Street and Veterans Way Mountain Home, TN 37684 US
• Name: Rita Tolen
• Phone: 423-979-3565
• Email: [email protected]