Summary

The Nursing Assistant provides clinical support for the adult and geriatric Veteran under the direction of the RN and LPN. The Nursing Assistant on the Community Living Center practices and adheres to a high level of respect and knowledge of Veteran rights to protect the vulnerable and frail Veterans.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position - applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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. 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
• GRADE REQUIREMENTS
• 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 - NA 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 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 NA (Entry Level)
• Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 NA
• 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)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 NA (Full Performance 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
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs below
• 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 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 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
• 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. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over) - straight pulling (6 hours) - pushing (2 hours) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking (6 hours) - standing (2 hours) - repeated bending (6 hours) - ability to distinguish basic colors - hearing (aid may be permitted) - visual acuity 20/30 correct - and mental and emotional stability.

Duties

• Provide care that offers no evidence or concern of abuse: care is given that demonstrates the Veteran's right to be free from verbal - sexual - physical and mental abuse
• Intervene per policy and report immediately any evidence of care given that demonstrates mistreatment - neglect - and misappropriation of property
• Ensure the Veteran/resident is wearing the correct identification bracelet
• Perform - and can mentor other CNAs - in activities of daily living (ADL) by helping Veterans in their physical functioning - to include personal hygiene (bathing) - eating - assisting Veterans in and out of bed/wheelchairs using proper lifting techniques and safe patient handling equipment
• Demonstrate the need for minimal supervision and proficient skill in promoting independence in daily living activities by following the Veteran's Restorative Plan of Care
• Performance demonstrates the Veteran is taught and encouraged to give as much of their self-care as is possible - while respecting the Veteran's preferences
• Independently follows the Restorative Plan of Care and performs range of motion exercises - turning and positioning - ambulation and other routine care procedures to complete all restorative exercises in the Plan of Care
• Perform and can mentor other CNAs in a variety of general nursing duties competently including measurement and accurate recording of vital signs - height - weight - intake and output - smoking safety per Veteran's smoking assessment - cleansing and retention enemas - tube feeding - post-mortem care - infection control - isolation - simple treatments such as hot and cold packs - changing clean dressings - and applying external catheters
• Perform - under the supervision of a Registered Nurse - and when assigned - catheter care - oral -pharyngeal suctioning and tracheostomy suctioning and tracheostomies that are non-complicated and at least five days old
• Maintain and monitor oxygen therapy as directed by the RN - assignment or written care plan - to include management and operation of oxygen tanks
• Apply binders - splints - supportive devices - braces - and other simple devices to aid Veterans in positioning for therapy - apply hot and cold packs - prepare patients for tests - examinations - and treatments
• Collect specimens such as urine - specimen and stool - correctly label specimens for laboratory examinations and assure timely transportation of specimens
• Apply ointments - shampoos - and creams considered medications under the Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP Policy) and mentor fellow CNAs in performing medication administration per policy
• Review the Veteran's/resident's treatment plan and follow the plan in performing resident care
• Update the plan of care in the resident's room to remain current with IDT and/ or Nursing Care Plan in the medical record - and report/verify changes and discrepancies to the charge nurse
• Participate in CLC activity and actions to improve the quality of care for residents/Veterans to include fall intervention and prevention of pressure sores
• Participate in the nursing care conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings - using knowledge of the Veteran/resident and report resident/Veteran problems - help plan individualized care and discharge planning
• Inspect devices and determine if the device is safe to use - or remove the device - notify supervisor - and implement the process to have the device repaired
• Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: To be determined by Supervisor - rotating weekends Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
• When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of higher or unique qualifications or special needs of the VA (Above Minimum Rate of the Grade)
• Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized