The Nursing Assistant functions as a member 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.

Duties

Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Duties include: Obtain vital signs, documents in CPRS and reports deviations to appropriate RN. Obtains Intake and Outputs appropriately (oral intake, IV pump, feeding pump, Foley catheter, urinal, drains, etc.) and reports shift totals/deviations to RN. Gathers information about patient condition and communicates to RN to develop specific plan of care for patient. Recognizes subtle changes in the patient's condition, behavior and/or comfort. Reports observations and interventions to Registered Nurse. Provides environmental safety, security, infection control and patient privacy. Demonstrates ability to plan and organize assignment independently. Performs and documents Q2 hour rounding/turning. Verbalizes and demonstrates process for obtaining lab specimens, proper labeling and immediate transport. Recognizes and responds to impaired airway-notifying Registered Nurse. Provides oxygen as ordered or as Registered Nurse instructs-using the appropriate equipment. Provides care for & management of patient with chest tubes. Performs 12-Lead ECG with correct lead placement. Verbalizes and demonstrates the process for retrieval and placement of the telemetry unit. Obtains urine output (i.e., bladder scan, I&O documentation, etc.) and reports finding to appropriate Registered Nurse. Provides Foley catheter care each shift, daily or as needed. Verbalizes process in notifying RN regarding changes in patient skin status. Verbalizes rationale when performing Q2 hour rounding/turning requirements. Demonstrates proper hand hygiene prior to and immediately following patient care/contact. Demonstrates ability to locate Hand Hygiene MCM 105-11. Verbalizes and demonstrates caring for patient in Negative Airflow or isolation precautions. Verbalizes and demonstrates standard precautions for blood and body fluids Verbalizes and demonstrates understanding of provide CHG baths and per RN guidelines Verbalizes and performs blood pick-up process per Standard Operating Procedure. Maintains SBAR per Registered Nurse guidelines Operates patient handling equipment safely, i.e., ceiling lift, floor lift, evacuation equipment, etc. Manage restraints under RN supervision. Manages patient with Suicidal Ideation/Homicidal Ideation- including required documentation Verbalizes the process of maintaining 1:1 sitter status and the required documentation for the patient. Performs D-stick and notifies Registered Nurse with variations in results. Attends Daily Huddles. Identifies location of unit AED/Crash cart. Verbalizes process for initiating Code Blue/RRT Demonstrates the proper placement and operation of CPM machine. Demonstrates placement, set up and functioning of Game Ready unit. Work Schedule: Varying Day Shifts/Rotating Shifts/Monday to Friday: 7:30am-8:00pm (includes weekdays, weekends and holiday scheduling) Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases. 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 Note: This is a Bargaining Unit Position.

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. Experience or Education or Training: Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR, One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR, Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one year as a NA may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. 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 3j. 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 NA (Entry Level)Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. 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 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 (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; AND In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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. Preferred Experience: Previous Medical/Surgical experience preferred 1-2 years of nursing assistant experience preferred Current bedside patient care experience preferred. Current CPR certification required. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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-3 to GS-5. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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.

Contacts

• Address Thomas E Creek VA Medical Center 6010 Amarillo Boulevard, West Amarillo, TX 79106 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]