General Description: The Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventative, acute, subacute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. The Organizational Location of the Position is: This position is location in Nursing Service (Patient C are Services) within VANTHCS.

Duties

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until May 30, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be March 1, 2024, with subsequent cut-off dates every two weeks until 5/30/2024. 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 who are referred will be considered for 90 days, after 90 days applicants will have to reapply. Duties include but are not limited to: The incumbent will provide direct patient care to adults of all ages requiring technical skills and knowledge for acutely ill, those requiring long-range supportive/rehabilitative care and care for all types of patients. The incumbent must be able to report observations to a professional nurse and record in the patient's medical record. The incumbent must be able to evaluate and care for all veterans: acute and chronically ill, as well as normal aging. Knowledgeable of policies and procedures of the VA and Nursing Service to comply with the recognized standards. Must be knowledgeable of basic nursing care duties as taught in the Basic Nursing Assistant Trainee Program to provide direct patient care and observe patients. Duties include vital signs, Intake and output, bathing, assist with meals, providing end of life care to veterans, providing comfort care to dying veterans' families, blood sugar, assist with ADLs, at times escort veteran to appointments, maintain safe clean environments in veteran rooms, monitor high fall risk veterans closely, answer veteran call lights, assist nurse with wound care, and proper use of veteran transfer devices and lifting devices. Work Schedule: All tours are 12 hours including Days, Evenings, Nights, Weekends and Holidays. 07:30 am to 08:00pm or 07:30pm to 08:00am. Work Schedule Statement: May be required to work other shifts, be on call, work weekends and/or holidays as patient care and needs of the service require. Should operational needs dictate, candidates must be willing to work within other units to assist and support continuation of the provision of care/services. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation Incentive: May be Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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 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. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019. English Language Proficiency. NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English Grade Determinations: GS-3 Nursing Assistant [NA] - (Entry Level) : Experience and Education - None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 Nursing Assistant [NA] (a) 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: 1. Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. 2. Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's 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 patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 Nursing Assistant [NA] (Full Performance Level) (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 1. 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. 2. 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. 3. 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. Knowledge of Current Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice. Quality of Experience. To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full-time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service. Preferred Experience: Direct Patient Care experience Long-Term care experience Acute Care experience References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualifications Standard GS-0621, dated March 12, 2015. 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: ModerateLifting 15-44 pounds, Light lifting, under 15 pounds, Moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds, Light carrying, under 15 pounds, Pulling hand over hand ( 8-12 hours), Pushing ( 8-12 hours), Reaching above shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking ( 8-12 hours), Standing ( 8-12 hours), Kneeling ( 8-12 hours), Repeated bending (8-12 hours), Both legs required, Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other, Ability to distinguish basic colors, Hearing (aid may be 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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

NOTE: If your school was accredited by US Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the US Department of Education's website, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Contacts

• Address Dallas VA Medical Center 4500 South Lancaster Road Dallas, TX 75216 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]