Nursing Assistant

Summary An incentive of $3,500 offered for highly qualified applicants. The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing team in providing quality patient care on any medical/surgical unit. The employee in this position provides intensive or total nursing care to medically/surgically unstable patients which requires a high degree of versatility. These patients range from those with an acute onset of a disease to multiple systems failure. Responsibilities This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 30, 2024. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be November 3, 2023. After this date, qualified applicants will be considered and referred as vacancies become available. Eligible applications received after the initial cut-off date will be referred as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis until positions are filled. Applicants will remain active for 3 months after their initial application is received or updated. After that time, you must update your application through your USAJobs account if you would like to be considered during the open period. This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-5. At the GS-3 and GS-4 grade levels, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-5. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance. Job duties include, but are not limited to: Assists with patient admission, transfer or discharge. In addition to obtaining basic information, the person observes skin condition for pressure areas, lesions, bruises, etc., that will indicate the need for special nursing measures. The person further assists the Team Leader/Primary Care Nurse with baseline data collections as sensorium, presence of tubes and gives the patient and family an orientation to the ward and explains hospital rules such as visiting hours and smoking regulations. Applies principles of normal range of motion, body mechanics and body alignments. This is done several times a tour for the immobilized patient and the person has a thorough understanding of this nursing measure. Performs duties in connection with personal services to patients such as bathing, oral hygiene, shampoo, shaving, giving bedpans and urinals, answering call lights, ambulating, positioning, lifting and transporting patients, feeding patients and applying condom drains. The person understands the complications and the necessity of good oral hygiene. Assists the physician or nurse in performing procedures by positioning, draping and supporting the patient and setting up equipment, such as lumbar puncture trays, aspiration trays, etc. With additional knowledge received, the person understands why they place a patient in a special position for a procedure, as for the lumbar puncture, and also knows that specimen labeling must be done immediately and taken to lab with very careful handling. Utilizes principles of asepsis in performing urological procedures, such as catheterization and irrigations. The person, monitors continuous irrigations of bladder or wounds, reporting to the. Team Leader/Primary Care Nurse the type of drainage. Changes simple non-sterile dressings. Prepares and gives tap water and soap suds enemas, irrigates mature colostomies and supports the teaching programs for patient and family care for all ostomates. Keeps constantly alert in observing patients, notes any significant changes, whether evidenced by a physical observation or by a mechanical means, takes emergency action for which he/she is trained and calls the professional nurse. Work Schedule: Various tours available. Will be determined by the Hiring Manager (Nurse Manager) of the position. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement : PD000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details. 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. 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. Education or Training: One year above high school with courses related to the 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. 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, 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. 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. Assignment: Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised. GS-4 Nursing Assistant (Intermediate/Developmental Level) 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), GS-4: 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. Assignment: Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. NAs at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded NAs, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors . click apply for full job details