Nursing Assistants function as members of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. Patient/Resident care in the Geriatrics and Extended Care and Mental Health Nursing Service involves more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements.

Duties

Nursing Assistants may perform theses duties in a long-term healthcare setting. Nursing Assistants will care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions. Cross trained to Mental Health Unit, Emergency Department, outpatient, and acute care settings including ICU and Medical Surgical Units. Duties and Responsibilities include but are limited to the following: Provides direct care for complex Veterans. Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition and takes action accordingly. Documents care given, observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms. Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personal. Administers complete tracheostomy care, including suctioning. Monitors and documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely and accurately. Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the Veteran for such procedures but not limited to: enemas, catheterization, colostomy care, skin care simple dressing, application of braces and prosthetic devices. Engages in group activities such as off-station trips (i.e. off campus appointments, VA eye clinic, dialysis, etc.), reality orientation, current events and other therapeutic groups with direction and close supervision. Works on small group activities with Veterans/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan. Recognizes the residents' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect, limit setting and individualized treatment. Participates in Treatment Planning Meetings. Utilizes equipment to promote the Veteran self-care, such as lift equipment and Veteran/Resident Wandering System. Provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the Veteran/residents' plan of care, participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planning. Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart, utilizing appropriate formats. Participates in maintaining a clean, safe environment for the patient/resident. Removes defective equipment, reports hazards, observes safety regulations, contributes to infection control, and utilizes proper aseptic technique in performance of duties. Serves as the unit safe patient handling liaison. Serves as preceptor and mentor to other Nursing Assistants. Orients members of the health care team to the units. Functions as a member of the unit-based council. Manages distributed patient behavior and by appropriately intervenes and request assistant from other health care members. Initiates basic life support, takes actions appropriate action. Escorts patients. Demonstrates understanding and proficiency of the use of the continuous virtual care platform with audio and visual capability. Work Schedule: Intermittent, Varies, must accept all shifts Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Relocation Incentives: Not Authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #s: 654-03024, 654-03023, 654-03022 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 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 must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j. Grandfathering Provisions. All Nursing Assistants employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard, 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. GRADE REQUIREMENTS Creditable Experience 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, Nursing Assistant 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 Nursing Assistant is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a Nursing Assistant 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. Grade Determinations. In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level): Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements mentioned above. Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 Nursing Assistants are closely supervised. GS-4 Nursing Assistant: Experience. 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, 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 Nursing Assistant (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. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs 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. Preferred Experience: Long term Care 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 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. Transferring patients and objects may be required. The NA may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures. The NA may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The NA must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs. The NA must complete annual employee health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, 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
• Name: Marisella Souza
• Phone: 925-356-4088
• Email: [email protected]