Summary

The incumbent assists and cares for Veterans in the inpatient and outpatient setting - communicates with other members of the healthcare team regarding patient concerns and personal observations. The NA can be crossed-trained within the RVAHCS to perform a range of direct care duties as assigned by Management. The incumbent demonstrates the ability to provide a full range of Nursing Assistant care to Veterans with a variety of physical and/or behavioral problems.

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
• (1) [Six months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA
• OR -] (2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR - (3) 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. Physical Requirements
• See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• 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
• 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
• 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 NA (Entry Level) (a) Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• 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
• Preferred Experience: One year clinical experience with preference in Podiatry
• 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-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Duties

• Duties include but are not limited to: 1
• Performs a wide variety of nursing duties aimed at increasing the safety - comfort - and spirit of the Veteran while following established policy and procedures
• 2
• Provide acute and close observation of Veterans with medical or mental health conditions requiring such observation
• 2.1.This includes intervening to prevent an act of self or other harm by Veterans - assisting with prevention and management of disruptive behavior - and reporting to the charge nurse any deviation from baseline behavior or condition
• 2.2.The work environment involves a high risk of regular and recurring exposure to potentially dangerous situations such as infectious diseases - demented and suicidal/homicidal patients/s - and construction with associated risks
• 2.3.There are regular and recurring situations where physical attack by patients/s requires safety training - specifically prevention and management of disruptive behavior
• 2.4.Routine redirection - intervention - and mitigation of behaviors from patients/s may be required
• 3
• Identifies and reports data relative to more complex Veteran situations including subtle changes in Veteran's behavior or condition or variances related to neurological signs - vital signs - and other parameters
• 3.1.They/them utilizes simple diagnostic tools and documents rhythms - discussions with staff members - and any changes in the computerized medical record
• 4
• The incumbent monitors vital signs - and other activities of daily living and documents appropriately
• Documents in the Veteran medical record a daily outline or summary of the Veterans care using the approved format - including situation-background assessment-recommendations (SBAR) hand-off
• 5
• They/them assists Veterans with transfers using proper body mechanics and safe patient handling and mobility devices to ensure safety to self and Veteran
• 5.1.They/them provides 1:1 observation for suicidal - wander risk - or high fall risk Veteran as directed by the Supervisor or Charge Nurse
• 6
• May provide escort services to Veterans in the absence of an escort
• 6.1.This includes escorting to other units - diagnostic tests - other healthcare facilities - and to privately owned vehicles when discharged
• 6.2.Safely escorts and/or transports - stretcher - wheelchair - and ambulatory patients to appropriate designations following prescribed safety procedures and performing a range of indirect patient care activities while transporting Veterans
• 7
• Monitors environment of care and initiates corrective actions to prevent patient injury - reporting problem and resolution to Supervisor
• 8
• Performing manual toenail debridement - observes and reports significant clinical changes to the Registered Nurse and/or Provider
• 9
• Sets up for and assists with procedures in the clinic
• 9.1
• Attends to the flow of patient processing in the clinic - including preparing Veterans for procedures and escort Veteran to other areas as needed and directed
• 10.Assigned procedures include a variety of personal nursing care duties required to the prepare Veterans for surgery - including skin preparation and hair removal for surgical procedures - and other related duties using principles of aseptic techniques
• 10.1
• Properly identifies the Veteran per policy
• 10.2
• Assures Veteran is properly attired for surgery
• 10.3
• Verifies completeness of and obtains patient record
• 10.4
• Transports Veteran by various appropriate methods - i.e. - surgical gurney - wheelchair
• 10.5
• Transports with various patient support devices - i.e. - Monitors - O2 - I.V
• pumps 10.6
• Assumes responsibility for safety of sedated Veteran during transport - providing physical and emotional support during transportation
• 11.Maintains designated OR specialty and routine equipment/supplies and designated perioperative areas under indirect supervision of the Perioperative Nurse
• 12.Completes patient equipment and supply assignments in a timely manner
• 13.They/them provides a range of direct Veteran care services and measures vital signs and reports deviations to LPN - RN - or Provider
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday - 07:30-1600 Compressed/Flexible: Not available Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized