Nursing Assistant- Acute Care

Summary

This Nursing Assistant functions as a member of a nursing team assigned to a medical/surgical - mental health - ICU - ER - and CLC units within the Omaha VA Medical Center. They support professional nursing staff in the care of Veterans with a variety of medical - surgical - and psychiatric conditions such as advanced infections - amputations - pneumonia - joint replacement - etc. The Nursing Assistant will work primarily in inpatient units but may be required to provide support in other areas as needed.

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
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English
• Experience - Education or Training
• You must meet one of the following to meet the basic requirements for a Nursing Assistant (NA): 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 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 meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements stated above - the following qualification criteria must be met for each grade
• The candidate's qualifications must clearly demonstrate the level of competence required for the grade
• GS-03 - None beyond the basic requirements
• NAs at this grade NAs are considered entry-level and are closely supervised
• GS-04 - To qualify at the GS-4 level you must meet the following: EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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 two (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 - in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (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 residents' 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 - To qualify at the GS-5 level you must meet the following: EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge - skills - and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment
• Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home - or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative - acute - sub-acute - chronic - maintenance - and hospice care
• OR - EDUCATION: Successful completion of 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 you must demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills and Abilities (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
• References: 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: This position requires some degree of fitness - strength - and agility
• Duties require extensive periods of standing and walking
• Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending - lifting - stooping - stretching - pushing - pulling - lifting arm overhead - and similar activities
• If selected - you will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
• Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
  
  

Duties

• Are you a dedicated nursing student looking to gain valuable hands-on experience in a supportive and dynamic environment? Or perhaps a CNA seeking the opportunity to pick up extra hours on a flexible basis? The Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking compassionate and motivated Certified Nursing Assistants to join our team on an intermittent basis
• This position offers tremendous flexibility - making it ideal for those balancing their studies with work or looking to supplement their current job with additional hours
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Major duties for the Nursing Assistant include - but are not limited to: Assisting nursing staff with patient admissions - transfer - and discharges by inventorying and storing patients' belongings - providing patients with personal care items - and orienting patients and their families
• Providing high-quality care for patients under the direction of nursing staff
• Maintaining patient stability by checking vital signs and weight - recording intake and output - dispensing/retrieving patient care supplies - reporting abnormal vital signs to charge nurse or primary RN - and accurately documents electronic medical record with patient care - needs - and progress
• Monitor and record patients' vital signs and report any changes to nursing staff
• Maintain a safe - clean - and comfortable environment for patients
• Assisting patients to complete activities of daily living (ADLs)
• ADLs include but are not limited to: repositioning - ambulating - toileting - eating/drinking - bathing - oral care/denture care - nail care - grooming (shaving - brushing hair) - skin care - changing linens and keeping patient rooms free of tripping hazards and generally tidy
• All cares will be carried out while providing the patient privacy and dignity
• Accompanying patients for tests/procedures
• Support nursing staff with routine tasks and administrative duties as needed
• Performing technical tasks with appropriate training such as administering as 12-Lead Electrocardiogram test and bladder scanning
• Being a safety attendant for patients
• Other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Intermittent - Sunday- Saturday - Day and Night Shifts
• Rotating holidays and weekends required
• 4 - 8 - or 12-hour shifts based on staffing needs
• Work is scheduled between 7 a.m
• - 7:30 p.m
• and 7 p.m
• - 7:30 a.m
• Additional Pay: Shift Differential - 10% of basic pay for work performed during regularly scheduled hours between 6pm and 6am
• Weekend Premium - 25% of basic pay for work performed between the hours of midnight Friday and midnight Sunday
• Holiday Pay - 2 times basic hourly rate for regularly scheduled - non-overtime work on a designated holiday
• Overtime when working over 8 hours in a day Compressed/Flexible: Available Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): 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)
• Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Nebraska-Western Iowa is part of the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23)
• The VA Midwest Health Care Network advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers
• This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest
• As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care - you will operate in a model with three core elements - seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran
• This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community
• This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-being.