Summary

The Community Living Center is a 66-bed facility that provides long term care - hospice - palliative care - rehab - and extended care services to eligible veterans within an Interdisciplinary environment. Three (3) distinct neighborhoods make up the CLC: a 10-bed Hospice Unit - and a 66-bed combination Long Term Care/Short Stay Unit/Rehabilitation.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• a
• 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.) b
• 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. c
• Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• d
• 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
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS a
• Creditable Experience (1) Knowledge of Current Practice
• To be creditable - the experience must have required the use of knowledge - skills - and abilities associated with the current practice
• (2) 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
• (3) 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
• b
• Grade Determinations
• In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• (1) GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level)(a) Experience [and] Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (b) Assignments
• Individuals assigned as GS-3 Nursing Assistants are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised
• (2) GS-4 Nursing Assistant(a) 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 - (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 (d) Assignment 1
• Individuals assigned as GS-4 Nursing Assistants are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised
• Nursing Assistants at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded Nursing Assistants - 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 - higher graded Nursing Assistants or other healthcare professionals
• 2
• In this role - the Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded Nursing Assistants - 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 who are in acute - sub-acute - or chronic states of illness
• The Nursing Assistant in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors - higher graded Nursing Assistants - or other healthcare professionals
• (3) GS-5 Nursing Assistant (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 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 Nursing Assistants 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
• 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
• (d) Assignment
• This is the full performance level for Nursing Assistants
• Nursing Assistants at this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff 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 distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictable to unpredictable requirements
• Nursing Assistants at this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role
• Preferred Qualifications Certified Nursing Assistant Level I and II Hospital Acute Care Nursing Assistant Experience within the last 2 years Nursing Home patient care in the last 2 years

Duties

• The program is designed to provide optimal comprehensive resident care within available resources and is consistent with the Medical Center and Nursing Service mission - philosophy - and goals
• The length of stay for veterans in the unit may range from a few days to several years
• The length of stay is determined by the individual needs of the veteran - potential for rehabilitation - and availability of resources for discharge to the least restrictive environment
• Discharge planning and patient/family education is initiated upon admission and continues throughout the patients stay in the CLC
• The CLC has an interdisciplinary team that includes staffing representing Nursing - Dietary - Social Work - Pharmacy - Occupational Therapy - Physical Therapy - Nurse Practitioners - and Physicians
• The interdisciplinary team meets each week to discuss care planning and needs of patients
• Nurses are competent in the management of patients with complex diseases such as Diabetes - CHF - COPD - Cancer - and Dementia
• Staff receives education in other areas - including pain management and end of life care
• Major responsibilities and duties may include but are not limited to the following: Honoring resident choice and promoting a home like environment when providing care such as feeding - bathing - dressing - positioning - and transferring
• Obtaining vital signs and capillary blood glucose results
• Performing procedures such as enemas - wound care - tube feedings and suctioning
• Assisting with examinations and medical procedures such as preparing and positioning the resident - obtaining equipment and supplies and removing used equipment and supplies
• Applying creams - lotions - and administering other approved medications under the supervision of the nurse
• Maintaining the resident environment to include straightening the residents room - emptying trash - and cleaning resident wheel chairs and other equipment
• Performing as a sitter to observe residents when necessary for suicide prevention - fall reduction - and risk of harm to self/other
• Setting up equipment such as suction equipment - oxygen - cooling blankets - etc
• Participating on committees geared at improving the quality of life for residents
• At the GS-04 level - you will receive on-the-job training and/or formal training to develop proficiency to progress to the full performance level position
• At the entry level - you will perform developmental assignments
• The full performance level of this position is GS-05
• If selected at a lower grade level - selectee may be promoted without further competition to the GS-05 level when fully qualified and recommended by the selecting official
• However - promotion is not guaranteed and no promise of promotion is implied
• PHYSICAL EFFORT: The position requires performance of work which involves heaving lifting and carrying of 45 pounds and over - repetitive pulling - pushing - reaching above shoulder - walking - standing - bending - kneeling and the ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• WORKING CONDITIONS: The work is performed inside areas working around machinery with moving parts - working with hands in water
• Incumbent will at times work alone and closely with others
• Work Schedule: Day/Evening/Night 8 hour tour with rotating weekends Financial Disclosure Report: Not required