Summary

This Nursing Assistant belongs to 4B-Step-Down Unit Cardiac/Thoracic/Transplant Floor. It is a 20-bed medical-surgical inpatient unit that specializes in the care of cardiac - transplant - and cardio-thoracic surgery patients.

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:

• US Citizenship is required
• (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 3 - Section A - paragraph 3.g.)
• ENGLISH: Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Education or Training: Must possess six (6) months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA
• OR - One (1) year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR - Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related [training]course of study [or program] of less than one year as a NA may also meeting full the experience requirements for GS-3. IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS LISTED ABOVE - YOU MUST MEET THE GRADE REQUIREMENTS AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GRADE LEVELS TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION
• GS - 03: Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised
• Experience or Education: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS - 04: Individuals assigned as GS-4 NAs are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised
• 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 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: 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
• GS - 05: This is the full performance level for NAs
• 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 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: 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
• NOTE: Students/trainees may be appointed in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7405(a)(1)(D)
• See Part II - Chapter 3 - paragraph 5 of VA Handbook 5005
• References: VA HANDBOOK 5005 REFERENCE: Part II Appendix G46 EFFECTIVE DATE: May 22 - 2024
• 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: This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - and sitting
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing
• 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
• Must comply with any Employee Health requirements as a condition of employment
• In the performance of duties - the incumbent may be required to drive and/or ride in GSA-vehicles.

Duties

• Major Duties: Assists with/performs under the direct supervision of the recreation/occupational/physical therapist therapeutic and diversion activities for patients
• Obtains blood pressure - pulse - respiration - and blood glucose (finger stick) and records them appropriately in the medical record
• Is able to distinguish significant variances in vital signs and finger sticks and reports them to the responsible RN
• Assist or provide patients with personal hygiene - i.e. - bathing - shaving - teeth brushing - nail care - hair combing - etc
• Provide patients with the appropriate level of assistance with activities of daily living - bathing - dressing - transferring - ambulating - feeding - and toileting
• Weighs patients and records them appropriately in the medical record
• Is knowledgeable about variances in weights and reports significant variances in weights to responsible RN
• Answers call lights promptly and in person
• Assists during emergency treatment situations obtaining equipment as necessary and running errands as needed
• Assists in emergency situations including - but not limited to CPR as needed
• Assists the nurse/MD/NP during procedures/treatments as needed following appropriate standards and guidelines
• Completes alt required Nursing Assistant initial and annual competency requirements
• Assists the team in reinforcing educational needs with patients
• Consistently follows the Plan of Care for each patient
• Perform one to one observation as assigned
• Maintains positive and constructive professional working relationships with patients - families - medical staff - volunteers - and co-workers
• Transport patients as assigned off the unit for various diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
• Follow all infection control procedures
• Other duties as assigned
• Communication Duties: Consistently reports to the team leader/licensed staff observations of the patient's physical condition and behavior
• Participates with the nursing team to provide input in the formulation and implementation of the care plan
• Records appropriately in the medical record
• Consistently addresses the patient
• family - and staff with respect and dignity
• Will report any suspected abuse to the appropriate licensed nurse (charge nurse - supervisor - manager)
• May attend interdisciplinary conferences as needed for the purpose of reporting observations of resident (patient) behavior or care
• Other Assigned Responsibilities: Uses word processing software to execute several office automation functions such as storing and retrieving electronic documents and files
• activating printers
• .inserting and deleting text formatting letters. - reports - and memoranda
• and transmitting and receiving e-mail
• Uses various programs to access information in the Medical Center Computer System to include - but not limited to - the Veterans Health Information and Technology Architecture (VistA) and the Computerized Patient Record System (CPRS)
• Follows established Medical Center - Division and Extended Care Center Program policies and procedures - rules and regulations - related to fire - disaster - security measures - computer security - and universal fluid precautions
• Completes all required education requirements in a timely manner
• Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Full time -PM/NOC Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases When setting pay - a higher step rate of the appropriate grade may be determined after consideration of existing pay - 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) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• 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 eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position.