Summary

This Nursing Assistant position is located in the Nursing Service (Specialty and Acute Care) at the VA Bedford Healthcare Systems in Bedford - Massachusetts. This is a full time position at 40-hours per week.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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
• Experience: Six months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA;OR - Education: One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR - Training: 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 May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria)
• Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements - applicants will need to meet the grade level requirements - and the Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• To meet the grade level requirement the applicants must have the following listed below: Requirements for GS-3 Grade: None beyond the basic requirements (Experience and Education) .Requirements for GS-4 Grade: 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 - healthcare 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 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
• Requirements for GS-5 Grade: 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 - 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 the following KSAs: 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
• 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
• 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: Previous experience in a hospital - specialty/medical office - or long term care setting is preferred
• Knowledge of Basic Life Support (BLS) is required
• Certification as a Nursing Assistant (CNA) is helpful
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005 Part II Appendix G46.For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• The NA must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• These physical requirements will be consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The Nursing Assistant is an integral member of the Specialty and Acute Care (SAC) Service Line - providing a range of patient care duties under the guidance of SAC leadership - nurses - and providers
• This position primarily supports the VA Bedford Healthcare Systems and its community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs)
• As part of this role - travel to CBOCs is required
• The Nursing Assistant is responsible for carrying out a variety of nursing care activities within the defined scope of practice and must demonstrate flexibility in daily assignments to meet patient and service needs
• Major Duties include - but are not limited to: Assists with Urgent Care and Specialty Clinic related tasks as requested by provider/licensed staff
• Maintains cleanliness of exam rooms and environment
• Anticipates what the provider will need during the evaluation and treatment of patients to enhance workflow and processing
• Assists the provider/nurse with procedures such as dressing changes - I&D's etc
• Perform and record vital signs and documents in the electronic health record
• Performs EKG's - collects specimens such as - but not limited to urine/stool and point-of-care blood glucose at the direction of a provider RN/LPN
• Follows all standard processes regarding the use and handling of reusable medical equipment
• Makes observations of subtle changes in patient's condition - i.e
• behavior shifts - mood - skin coloring - etc
• and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role
• Transport/escort patients to various areas of the hospital (ex
• radiology) via wheelchair if needed
• Utilizes principles of proper body mechanics while caring for patients (ex
• transferring from wheelchair to stretcher or exam chair) - and follows all procedures for use of patient care equipment to prevent injury to self or others
• Attends and completes training required for continuing education and mandatory training with established policy and procedures
• Monitors and restocks medical supplies and linen and assure medical equipment is in operating order
• Travels to the CBOC's as needed
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30am - 4:00pm Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS) (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Functional Statement #:F1865 - F1866 - F1668 Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory - qualification - and performance requirements are met
• Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level
• Notifications: This position is covered by a special rate
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees
• Narrative responses to the knowledge - skills and abilities (KSAs) may be required from the selectee in order to proceed with the appointment
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50 - (Notice of Personnel Action)
• The SF-50 must identify the position title - series - grade - step - tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted)
• In some cases - more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held
• Due to a critical staffing shortage - 38 U.S.C. § 7412 waives the requirement to apply Veterans' preference for this job announcement.