This position is located in the Eastern Colorado Health Care System under Patient Care Services, Inpatient Nursing, Acute Care. The purpose of this position is to provide a range of direct patient care in collaboration with the inpatient nursing team. The incumbent will serve as a member of the nursing team. All work is reviewed by a Registered Nurse (RN).

Duties

Performs & fulfills a variety of nursing care tasks in support of safe & effective patient care w/ appropriate training levels. All tasks, assignments & activities are under a RN's direction, guidance & supervision Adheres to VA and Nursing policies, procedures, & standards. Contributes to safe, clean & therapeutic environment for patients/staff by maintaining clean equipment, patient's rooms & ward areas. Cares for patients w/ communicable diseases that may require various isolation precautions. Must don appropriate PPE based on type of isolation precaution. Follows infection control/hand washing policies. Complies w/ safety/fire policies/rules/practices. Reports all accidents/unsafe/unhealthy environmental situations/conditions. Corrects/reports/removes broken equipment out of service immediately/tags it/submits repair ticket through Maximo. Uses aseptic techniques w/ treatments & simple dressings that don't require packing, irrigation, debridement, or medications. Wrap stumps, changes ostomy appliances & performs bowel/bladder trainings per treatment plan. Observes PIV/CVC for redness, swelling, or pain & reports finding to RN. Provides urinary/catheter care to include perineal hygiene & applying external catheters Assists w/ patient rehabilitation & preventing deformities by correcting position & assisting w/ Activities of Daily Living, ADLs, including ambulation. Performs ambulation & range of motion activities. Measures & records vital signs including temperature, pulse, respirations, blood pressure & measuring height & weight, monitors patient's O2 use/compliance. Measures & records intake & output, (performs bladder scans, EKGs, collects urine, sputum, MRSA or stool specimens, oral suctioning per RN). Recognizes overt abnormal signs & symptoms &/or changes in patients' condition & responds appropriately. Self-directed in seeking out RN, Lead Nurse, or Charge Nurse to report patient-related information. Observes/reports patient complaints, results of treatment performed, change in patient's condition, behavior &/or attitude. Observes/reports patient complaints, all changes in patient's physical condition &/or emotional status, e.g. post-operative shock signs, hemorrhage, cyanosis, respiratory, distress, mucous aspiration, IV infiltration, acute behavior changes or unusual behavior. Utilizes Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS) and Clinicomp/Essentris per policy. Documentation is consistent, accurate, concise & timely. Applies safety devices as directed to include soft ankle & wrist restraints, Twice-as-Tough Restraints & padded side rails. Reports abusive, aggressive threatening behaviors & documents actions via Disruptive Behavior Reporting System (DBRS). Initiates Code Yellow at RN's direction, initiates CPR or activates Code Blue according to medical center policy for patients found unresponsive &/or not breathing. Adheres to Safe Patient Handling practices for safe body mechanics/use of mechanical devices. Requests assistance from other staff when moving/lifting/turning patients as needed to prevent injury to patient/self/others. Assists w/ patients' admissions/discharges/transfers. Accurately documents/secures personal belongings, e.g. valuables, dentures, hearing aids, eyes & limbs. Participates in patient care conferences/helps create nursing care plans Participates in educational activities, completes unit based in-services, & mandatory educational activities in a self-directed manner by deadlines. Demonstrates positive, effective communication skills & professional behavior that promote cooperation & teamwork. Practices good customer service and demonstrates VA I-CARE values Participates in unit-based quality of care performance improvement activities, unit based performance improvement measures & results. Identifies problem areas by practicing evidence-based practices on unit. Perform other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Varies, 80 hours per week Compressed/Flexible: Available Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 51162-A, 51163-A & 51164-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until June 21, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be January 4th, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates on the 1st of each month. Eligible applications received after that date will be referred at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled.*** 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: U.S. 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 Education or Training. One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant, (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 Determination: GS-3 (Entry Level) Experiences and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 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: Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. 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. Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 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 (KSAs):In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 Preferred Experience: CNA certification and hospital 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 GS-3 to GS-5. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. It requires assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/litters and transporting them to other departments. In addition to the aforementioned duties, it may involve moving equipment/objects in excess of 40lbs. The position may require the incumbent to go up and down several flights of stairs in response to all emergency codes. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations. The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. Must complete annual Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address Eastern Colorado HCS Denver 13611 E. Colfax Ave Aurora, CO 80045 US
• Name: Tameka Snowden
• Phone: 4128223904
• Email: [email protected]