Nursing Assistant

Summary

The Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving preventive - acute - sub-acute chronic - maintenance - and hospice care. The NA at this level also assumes peer education/mentorship. Performs activities of daily living and provides a range of care that contributes to the Veteran's treatment plan - recovery - and wellness under the direction of a licensed health care provider.

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 3
• Education or Training
• One year above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant 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)
• Part-Time Experience
• Part-time experience as a Nursing Assistant is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek
• For example - a Nursing Assistant 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
• 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: GS-5 Nursing Assistant (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 Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs)
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 Nursing Assistant 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
• Preferred Experience: 2-3 Years Phlebotomy Experience 1-3 Years Outpatient/Specialty Clinic Experience EKG Experience Point of Care Testing Experience 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 the GS-5. Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continues walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The Nursing Assistant 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 Nursing Assistant may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The Nursing Assistant must be capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
  
  

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties: The Nursing Assistant works as a member of a team of other nursing personnel to provide direct care to outpatients in the Primary Care clinic setting
• The NA is assigned to specific patients and duties but not limited to vital signs including weights and pulse oximetry with documentation - venipuncture/phlebotomy - acquisition of 12 Lead ECG's - finger stick blood sugar measurements helping the patient to transfer from the wheelchair or assistive device to a chair and back - toileting - hygiene - ambulation - changes in position - comfort care - and other direct care related responsibilities
• She/he may work in clinics screening patients (i.e
• EKG - phlebotomy - demographic - etc.) under the direction of a physician or midlevel provider in outpatient clinic
• The NA is expected to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to proficiently carry out assigned patient care based on the patients' conditions - use judgment in the appropriate order and sequence of procedures and treatments - and complete work/assigned duties with only a general view of his/her work by a licensed nurse for appropriateness and conformity with certification - policies - and procedures
• Assignments associated with this position include - but are not limited to: Initiates - performs - and completes assigned duties timely - including administrative - immunization - laboratory - echocardiogram - halter/ event monitor - ABls and providing care to variable patient populations
• Performs primary duties including collection and processing blood specimens for transport to the main facility - standard diagnostic tests or procedures such as immunizations - echocardiograms - application of holter / event monitors and ABl's
• documents per policy
• Performs patient blood collection utilizing proper selection and use of equipment/supplies - and collection techniques
• Adheres to computerized patient record system policies and procedures for medication administration and data entry for vital signs and other patient information
• Observes for physical and/or emotional changes in patient's condition from prescribed medications/treatments - promptly and accurately documenting noted changes - and reporting any deviations from normal to RN or MD/DO
• Works with the Nurse Manager to appropriately orient/train less experienced Nursing Assistants/Health Technicians in relation to acceptable standards of practice in promoting optimal patient care delivery
• Educates patients about future appointments/labs/tests - importance of not being a noshow -TAP - ACA and the procedure to cancel an appointment as appropriate
• Scrubs clinic schedule and huddles with lab team daily
• May enter orders in accordance with medical center approved nursing protocols
• Ability to observe - identify and respond to patient's needs for care including patient/family education
• In planning - organizing and delivering care - the NA recognizes and considers emotional - cultural - spiritual - socio-economic - and agerelated factors
• Knowledge and ability to recognize urgent or emergent patient care situations - seek assistance from the physician or midlevel provider - and initiates appropriate emergency interventions
• Knowledge and understanding of human behavior - patient motivations and reactions to situations - and the ability to appropriately utilize this knowledge in working effectively with patients - family members - and other staff is required
• Actively participates in team efforts and staff meetings
• Listens to all patient/customer feedback - positive and negative - acts to resolve complaints within his or her control - and reports feedback to management in a timely manner
• Establishes constructive relationships with individual patients and their families to elicit feelings and attitudes - and to promote positive relationships - communication and socialization skills
• Fosters an environment of respect for individual patient and family rights to privacy and dignity in all aspects of care delivery
• Actively seeks out educational opportunities to enhance clinical knowledge and skills - sharing new knowledge gained with other staff to improve and advance nursing practice
• Work Schedule: Monday-Friday
• 7:00am-3:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 61527F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized