The VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) Nursing Assistant communicates with and observes patients during escorting procedures and ensures patient safety. Provides nursing care to chronically and/or acutely ill patients under the minimal direction of the Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, and/or the physician.

Duties

Duties and Support Inpatient * Collecting Specimens: sputum, urine (routine & sterile), feces, and others as directed by team lead for storage and delivery to lab according to unit standard. * Notify nurse of change in patient's condition and/or hazardous environments; including VS, physical or behavioral S&S, psychosocial, supply and/or equipment issues. * Under the guidance of the nurse or provider, prepares and positions the patient and arranges and passes medical supplies and materials to the providers or nurses for a variety of diagnostic tests. * Activities of Daily Living: bathing, feeding, oral care, hair care and other personal hygiene duties and range of motion activities. * Applies ointments, creams, shampoos, solutions, etc. per facility policy. * Sets up meals, documents consumption, and reports changes in appetite. Able to count calories. * Assists with bladder and bowel care, documents output, and reinforces patient education. * Turning patients as ordered. * Transfers and Lifts: Mobility of patients safely. Use of lift/transfer equipment and good body mechanics per safe patient handling. * Applies and removes compression, antiembolitic stockings (TEDS), and sequential sleeves as directed by nurse. * Applies simple non-sterile dressings and removes non-sterile dressings under the direction of the nurse or provider i.e. PEG, suprapubic catheters, drains. * Urinary Catheter Care per facility policy. Duties and Support Outpatient * Supports hospital wide COVID efforts, to include door monitoring, working in multiple clinic locations, working in COVID tent, inpatient, outpatient and administrative areas - Collects health history, complete clinical reminders, informs RN and PCP of information as needed, works collaboratively and effectively within PC and PACT team * Supports hospital wide influenza efforts, collects health screenings as needed, provides support to all aspects of outpatient needs both in and out of the hospital. * Collecting COVID/Influenza/Strep swabs per protocol, properly labeling/bagging specimens and delivering to lab * Performs procedures within scope of practice, to include EKG's, ear lavages, simple dressing changes, catheter changes, etc. under the direction of a provider/nurse and records and reports results. * Administers vaccinations per protocol, within scope of practice under the direction and supervision of the Nurse Manager, RN or PCP Additional Duties and Support *Accurately collects, records, and reports vital signs, height, and weight according to unit standard. * Reports behaviors and threats of patient harm to self and others; taking action to keep patient safe. * Maintains cleanliness of patient care area. * Documents patient care, data collected, and treatment provided and observed in EMR using medical terminology. * Active member of the Interdisciplinary Team. * Adheres to unit and Organizational Policies, Directives and procedures. * Obtains necessary supplies and equipment - exercising conservation in all patient areas. * Performs administrative duties as needed to include but not limited to: filing medical records, data entry, answering phones. Work Schedule: Full Time, 40 hours per week, shift work, weekends, days, evenings, nights and holidays. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• You may be required to serve a probationary period
• Subject to a background/security investigation
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: 1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 2. 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. 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. Additional/Preferred Qualifications: BLS Certification required Grade Determinations GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level). Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-4 Nursing Assistant. 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). 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 (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 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualifications Standard, GS-621 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: Duties require extensive period of standing, sitting and walking. Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching and similar activities. The employee provides physical restraints for confused or combative patients as necessary. The nursing assistant must be physically able to lift to meet the physical standards of the position as evaluated by Employee Health.

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 VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System 975 Kirman Avenue Reno, NV 89502 US
• Name: Havel Respes
• Phone: 415-221-4810 X23728
• Email: [email protected]