Nursing Assistant position is to assist licensed nursing staff in the care of residents/Veterans as a member of the nursing care team by providing Cultural Transformation and holistic resident-center care in a manner conducive to comfort and safety in the Community Living Center. The role is to protect, sustain, and nurture the resident and provide assistance as needed with activities of daily living, and with other needs as required in accordance with established policies and procedures.

Duties

Duties will vary based on grade. Assist in the full range of nursing care for residents with physical, mental health, dementia, and behavioral problems in a rehabilitation, long term care, and hospice setting. Under the direction of a RN and LPN, work is assigned by defining objectives, priorities and deadlines. Provide daily living activities. Set up, serve, and assist residents with eating and maintain a home like environment for dining. Turn, move, and transfer residents with appropriate technique and lifting assistance devices. Prepare and transports residents as needed for tests or discharge. Assist with restorative, rehabilitation, and activity programs that increase quality of life for each resident. Notify nursing of any physical or behavior changes. Document these changes using proper documentation forms. Use computer, computer programs, phone, photocopy, and fax machines. Assist with a complete range of treatment and procedures such as vital signs, administering hot and cold packs; accu-cheks; caring for residents in isolation; BVI; colostomy care; application of EKG leads. Perform a range of diagnostic support duties such as taking, recording, and reporting deviations in vital signs, taking specimens, labeling specimens for the laboratory, and assisting the doctor in a variety of diagnostic exams. Identify and report to nursing, the resident's physical and emotional reactions to medical treatment and nursing care. Verbally provide resident information to the licensed staff for inclusion in the nursing care plan. Enter information about the resident's condition and care in the resident's written and electronic records. Communicate effectively with residents, families, interdisciplinary team members and other staff personnel. Serve as a preceptor to new CNAs by assisting with employee orientation and overseeing/assessing their practical experience while in a clinical setting. Communicate tactfully and effectively, both orally and in writing. This may include preparing reports in various formats and presenting data to the supervisor. Utilize population, cultural, age-specific communication techniques to provide effective communication with CLC residents and visitors who may be geriatric. Recognize and react to emergent resident care situations and intervene while waiting for assistance. Provide restorative care and therapeutic activities. Conduct therapeutic activities as identified by the Restorative RN, PT/OT, and interdisciplinary team. Conduct work as assigned for the improvement of Resident Centered Care. Provide recreational activity assistant duties that enhance the ability of the CLC to provide quality resident centered care. Assists in planning, coordinating, and implementing recreational activities for residents. Engage in the various activities that are consistent with the rehabilitation plan of care determined by the interdisciplinary care planning committee and recreational therapist. Supervise the residents when engaging in off station activities and provide transportation using facility provided vehicles or mode of transportation. Develop a regularly scheduled intergenerational program in which children customarily interact with residents. Develop learning circles to be held twice per month for resident meetings in order to give each person the opportunity to share their opinions. Work Schedule: 7:00 AM- 7:30 PM varied days and may include weekends and holidays. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. When setting pay, a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay, higher or unique qualifications, or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade). Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child. Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66. Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 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. (Must provide transcripts and/or certificate) 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 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-3 (Entry Level): 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. (Must provide transcripts) AND In addition to the above experience/education, 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 (Full Performance Level): 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. (Must provide transcripts) AND In addition to the above experience/education, 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, March 12, 2015. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5. Physical Requirements: This work requires light to heavy lifting (15-45lbs and over), straight pulling, pulling hand over hand, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, crawling, kneeling, repeated bending, climbing, legs only, both legs required, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously, both eyes required, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, ability to distinguish shades of colors, hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors include working outside and inside, excessive noise (intermittent), slippery or uneven walking surfaces and working closely with others.

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 Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4815 North Assembly Street Spokane, WA 99205 US
• Name: Jovita Murphy
• Phone: 253-583-3850
• Email: [email protected]