Under the direction of a Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) or Registered Nurse (RN) the Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist in the care of residents receiving preventive, acute, sub-acute chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. The distinguishing factor is that resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements. The NA also assumes a peer education/mentorship.

Duties

The duties and responsibilities of the Nursing Assistant include but are not limited to the following: Demonstrates the knowledge and skill necessary to provide care, based on physical, psychological, educational, safety and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the resident served in his/her assigned area. The skills and knowledge needed to provide such care might be gained through education, training, or experience in NA arena. Maintains a positive therapeutic relationship by displaying respect for human dignity with resident, families and/or significant others utilizing learned communication skills. Begins to utilize observation skills for data collection, reporting and recording resident observations. Performs activities of daily living which i.e., bathing, shaving, feeding, oral hygiene, ambulation, nutrition and elimination, prevention of skin breakdown, dressing, and assisting the restorative nurse coordinator in the rehabilitation of the resident to be able to perform these functions independently to the extent possible. Personal Hygiene Physical comfort Activity, Exercise, Rest Nutrition Prevention of Skin Breakdown Rehabilitative Aspects of Care Beginning to engage in-group activities such as off-station trips, reality orientation, current events, and other therapeutic groups. Initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation in cardiopulmonary emergencies. Learning to utilize principles of proper body mechanics while caring for residents. Reports resident observations to the RN and or other members of the treatment team. Is trained to set up resident care related equipment. Organizes and obtains routine supplies and equipment. Assist with orienting resident/family to unit routines and policies. Work as a cooperative, courteous member of the interdisciplinary team. Safeguarding the resident's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature. Uses proper safety practices. Learning to utilize equipment and supplies according to procedures. Learning to utilize principles of proper body mechanics and follows procedures for use of resident care equipment to prevent injury to self or others in all settings such as utilization of lifting equipment. Provides input to Team Leader/Charge Nurse for making assignments prior to receiving report at the start of scheduled tour. Participate in shift report, notes pertinent items, and asks for clarification when unsure of content. Assist residents to keep physically and socially active and to maintain peer group interactions. Assist residents to cope with loss, e.g. hearing, vision, body parts or death of significant others. Assist residents with self-care as required, and with maintaining as much independence as possible. Preserves resident safety, confidentiality, respects resident/family/significant other's rights and assists the multidisciplinary team with resolving ethical issues. Attends interdisciplinary rounds and discharge planning meetings to assist with resident instruction/discharge planning for residents on designated team. Assist with admissions, discharges, transfers, and death procedures. Provides respectful care that maintains individuality, dignity, and self-esteem for residents in an environment that focuses on their care needs and quality of life. Practices universal precautions, infection control techniques and safe medical waste disposal Immediately reports observation and or knowledge of abuse or neglect of residents and loss or damage of government property. Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking, bending, lifting, stooping, stretching, pulling and /or similar activities carried out using safe resident handling techniques. Able to manage the video monitoring of the residents on camera (AvaSys monitoring system), making sure that the computer access for the program is active. Performs restorative nursing care as assigned. Work Schedule: Full-Time, 12hr shift, 80hrs/pay period. Night Shift and Day Shift positions, works weekends and holidays. Tour subject to change depending on the needs of facility. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

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: Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.) 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. 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. Grandfathering Provisions. All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard 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 re-entry to the occupation. Grade Determinations: GS-3 NA (Entry Level) (a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements. (b) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-4 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, (b) 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 (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. ii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. iii 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. iv Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals. GS-5 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. i 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. ii 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. iii 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. 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. Preferred Experience: 1-2 years current NA experience in Nursing home care/ skilled nursing facility BLS Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualification Standard, dated May 22, 2024. The full performance level of this vacancy is 5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 3 to 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 incumbent 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 incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia, or psychiatric disorders. The incumbent 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 Jerry L Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital 11201 Benton Street Loma Linda, CA 92357 US
• Name: Sonia Whipp
• Phone: (909)487-4135
• Email: [email protected]