This is an open continuous announcement. We accept applications for these occupations on an ongoing basis; qualified applicants will be considered as vacancies become available. Sign on bonus available for Inpatient Psychiatry Units 6C & Ward 7 only.

Duties

Albuquerque is a gem of the Southwest that boasts relatively mild climate year-round, a vast array of outdoor activities including golfing, snow skiing, hiking, and bicycling. Albuquerque is home to largest hot air balloon event in the U.S., the annual Balloon Fiesta, due to its ideal climate and wind patterns. Albuquerque also boasts a growing film industry, art scene, and has many resorts and casinos to enjoy. This announcement covers vacancies in multiple units/clinics within the New Mexico VA Health Care System, to include: Med/Surg units, Emergency Department; Step Down or Progressive Care; Telemetry; Operating Room; Home Care; Community Living Center Rehab or Hospice, Spinal Cord Injury Unit; Inpatient Psychiatry (Geriatric or Acute); Psychosocial Residential Rehabilitation (SUD/Homelessness); Geriatric Extended Care Units; Community Care; Float Pool, ASU/PACU, and other Specialty Areas. As a Nursing Assistant you will provide prescribed medical treatment and personal care services to ill and injured veterans. Duties include upholding the standards of care as outlined by the Medical Center and the Service policies and procedures. Provide quality nursing care to a variety of patients whose age may range from 17 years to 100+ years. Provides complete personal hygiene care needs. Turn and position patients to maintain proper body alignment, lift, ambulates, and transfer patients. Promote the physical independence of the patient by encouraging and teaching individual patients and groups of patients in self-care activities, such as progressive steps in personal hygiene, bathing, and oral care, also assists in teaching and encouraging other care activities such as eating, dressing, undressing, and bladder and other training as needed. Prepare patients for meals, feeds, and assists those requiring assistance. Take and record vital signs, weights, neurological checks, and circulatory checks. Work Schedule: Full-time, part-time (unit specific part time hours range 8 to 72 per pay period), and intermittent/PRN. Assigned schedule corresponds to specific clinic (Some clinics require days, nights, weekends, rotating shifts and holidays). Telework: Not Available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: Functional Statement. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized for Inpatient Psychiatry Units 6C & Ward 7 only. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required. *Recruitment incentive (sign on bonus) is available for Nursing Assistants - Behavioral Health Care Line (Inpatient) (6c) (Ward-7)

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. Education or Training. The candidate must have one year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant 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. Nursing Assistants appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d) Grade Determinations: GS-3 (Entry Level). There is no additional experience or education requirements beyond the basic requirements (as listed above). GS-4 Experience/Education: 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 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/Education: This is the full performance level for Nursing Assistants. Nursing Assistants 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. Nursing Assistants at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role. 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 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 Nursing Assistants 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. Grandfathering Provisions. All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA as of March 12, 2015 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: 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-03. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05. Physical Requirements: Work requires walking, standing, stooping, lifting, bending, pushing, turning, and at times carrying heavy loads. Must be able to utilize good body mechanics and have stamina to withstand stress.

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 Raymond G Murphy Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 1501 San Pedro Drive, Southeast Albuquerque, NM 87108 US
• Name: Heidi Orehek
• Phone: 5055194348
• Email: [email protected]