Summary

OUR MISSION: To fulfill President Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families - caregivers - and survivors" - by serving and honoring the men and women who are America's Veterans. The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this occupational series. For more information - refer to Required Documents below.

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: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Education or Training: Must possess six months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA
• OR - Have completed one full year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR - Have 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 a GS-3. (TRANSCRIPTS or CERTIFICATION REQUIRED) Time-in-Grade (TIG) In addition to meeting the basic requirements - you must meet the following GRADE REQUIREMENTS: GS-3 Level: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 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 (TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED)
• AND In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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 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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005/81 - Part II - Appendix G46
• The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to a GS-5. Physical Requirements: Walking - bending - stooping - and lifting in the direct care of patients
• some extended periods of sitting and/or standing.

Duties

• The Milwaukee Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders (SCI/D) Center is 1 of 25 VA SCI/D Centers across the nation
• The mission of the VA SCI/D program is to support and maintain the health - independence - quality of life - and productivity of Veterans with SCI/D throughout their lives
• We deliver care to approximately 400 Veterans
• Our SCI/D Center is a 38-bed unit equipped with ventilator capability - sleep study management - environmental control units - and an apartment that is utilized to prepare a Veteran with new onset SCI/D for discharge back to the community
• Inpatient services include acute rehabilitation - sustaining medical and surgical care - respite care - and end of life care
• Outpatient services include SCI/D specialty care - primary care - preventative medicine - adaptive sports medicine - baclofen pump management - acupuncture - healing touch - wound management - home care - psychology and social work services - physical therapy - occupational therapy - recreation therapy - nutritional and pharmacy services - and telehealth
• We authorize care in the community and monitor SCI/D Veterans who reside in long-term care facilities within a 100-mile radius from the Medical Center and make referrals if beyond
• Major Duties: Providing direct patient care which includes Obtaining and documenting Vital Signs - Intake & Output - and other required data
• Reporting of abnormal values or a change in the patient's condition
• Following the plan of care by providing appropriate level of assistance with activities of daily living
• At a minimum - this includes dressing and undressing - eating/feeding - toileting - bathing - showering - shaving - oral care - hair care - perineal care and restorative care: transferring - ambulating - positioning - range of motion and use of assistive devices
• Performing patient procedures such as specimen collection - glucometer use - bladder scanner - use of mobility devices - and provision of continuous protective observation (CPO and 1:1 CPO) for suicidal ideations
• Responding to patient/resident call lights or requests for assistance in a timely and courteous manner
• Participating in patient improvement/safety efforts maintaining a safe - clean and clutter-free environment
• Maintaining electronic - verbal and written confidentiality and physical privacy for patients/residents
• Providing 'person-centered' care that is appropriate for the situation - age and disease process of the adult and geriatric population
• Incorporating the rehabilitation philosophy in the daily care of the patients
• Work Schedule: Full-time on Days/1st shift - 0730-1600 - with weekend and Federal holiday rotation required
• Rotation to PMs and NOCs as needed.