The Nursing Assistant (NA) position is located in the Overton Brooks Veterans Affairs Medical Center and is an integral part of a team of nursing staff that consistently demonstrates knowledge of patient care, utilizes critical thinking skills, clinical competence and knowledge of the practices and procedures which she/he coordinates at the patient bedside.

Duties

Major duties for the position include (but are not limited to): Performs a variety of nursing care activities which include bathing, feeding, oral care and related personal hygiene duties. Assist with ambulation, lifting, getting Veteran ready for Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy (PT/OT), positioning and self-help activities. Assist with bladder and bowel elimination. Reapply nasal oxygen cannula if misplaced from Veteran's nares. May obtain full oxygen tank and replace empty oxygen tank for Veteran as needed. Recognize and properly use equipment, materials and supplies to carry out procedures and other assignments through the observation of the Registered Nurse (RN). Observes and reports current observations such as veteran's physical condition, emotional response, observes skin condition, variations in vital signs, urine, stool, or sputum; personal habits of patient, and listens for clues to Veterans reaction to illness and treatment, and reports observation to RN. Performs diagnostic support duties, such as collection of specimens. Duties may also include transport activities (transfer of patients to and from procedures/units) and delivering lab specimens to laboratory. Assist in the prevention of hospital acquired complications such as pressure ulcers through the frequent repositioning; through hand hygiene, via use of aseptic techniques and teaches patient/family the same. Cleans and maintains ward work areas reporting safety hazards, such as smoking risks and equipment in need of repair. Pass waters and perform vitals and correctly input information. Assist with admission process of new Veterans to the floor, orienting them to use the TV and call light. Appropriately uses protective/restraining devices (such as, bed alarm, chair alarm, toilet alarm). Use principles of body mechanics in veteran lifting, equipment handling, and Veteran care related to activities. Uses lifting devices and mechanical aids whenever possible. Obtains additional personnel when lifting, moving, or transferring veteran to prevent back strain and or injury. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 667-00019-F, 667-00020-F, 667-00021-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): 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. 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 Determinations: GS-03: Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. GS-04: Experience and Education: In addition to the basic requirements, appointment to the GS-04 grade level requires 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 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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-05: Experience and Education: In addition to the basic requirements, appointment to the GS-05 grade level requires 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 below; OR 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, candidates must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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: Blood Collection Experience References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G -46 Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard. 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-03 to GS-05. Physical Requirements: Physical Demands: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment. Work Environment: Work is performed in an office/clinic setting with minimal risks that requires normal safety precautions; the area is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated. However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.

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 Overton Brooks VA Medical Center 510 East Stoner Avenue Shreveport, LA 71101 US
• Name: Theresa Morehart
• Phone: 501-522-4386
• Email: [email protected]