Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant provides direct care for primary care patients per established Oklahoma City Veterans' Health Care System (OKC VAHCS) policies. OKC VAHCS is looking for a Nursing Assistant in Acute Care to work an intermittent tour of duty of three 8-hour shifts a month, who will attend to needed and vital requirements of the patient and ensure all regulatory and hospital guidelines and practices are followed, providing for a positive care experience within the OKC VAHCS.

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:

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. 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.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity. This position requires potentially extended periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling, and pushing. Transferring patients and objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided. The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations, operative/invasive procedures, or home settings. 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 or working effectively in stressful situations, able to shift priorities based on patient needs.

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 Determinations:

GS-3 (Entry Level)
Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4
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 (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 listed 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.

Preferred Experience: Two (2) years of Nursing Assistant 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 in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Responsibilities:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

Other duties may include but are not limited to:

All duties performed will be completed under close supervision with appropriate training and competencies for assigned task.

• Utilize glucose monitoring machine to collect and document appropriate glucose readings for assigned Veteran
• Maintains a positive therapeutic relationships by displaying respect for human dignity with patient, families and/or significant others utilizing learned communication skills.
• Utilize observation skills for data collection, reporting and recording patient/resident observations
• Performs aspects of nursing care to meet patient's needs for the following under close supervision and with direction/guidance from a preceptor.
• Organizes and obtains routine supplies and equipment.
• Assist with orienting patient/family to unit routines and policies.
• Work as a cooperative, courteous member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Safeguard the patient's right to privacy by judiciously protecting information of a confidential nature.
• Utilize principles of proper body mechanics and follows procedures for use of patient care equipment to prevent injury to self or others in all settings such as utilization of lifting equipment.
• Proficient with maintaining positive therapeutic relationships by displaying respect for human dignity with patient, families and/or significant others utilizing communication skills.
• Participate in patient centered conferences/shift reports and contribute information for the development and review of the nursing care plan.
• Maintain a therapeutic environment for patients according to established procedures and policies by reporting actual or potential accidents, fire hazards and faulty equipment.
• Perform and document prescribed medical treatment and interventions for patients, such as diabetic urine testing and blood testing, and simple dressing changes.
• Proficient with utilizing rehabilitative principles to promote patient independence and recovery, encouraging and guiding patient/residents in bowel and bladder training.
• Monitors patients according to levels of observations i.e. (one to one suicide, continuous observation, 15-minute checks, and hourly rounding.
• Monitors Veterans who may be at risk for harming themselves and or others according to established policies and procedures and appropriately refers issues to the charge nurse or other health care professional.
• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine, refers deviation to appropriate health care staff
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition, i.e. behavior shifts, mood, skin coloring, appetite, etc. and takes action accordingly within the NA's assigned role.
• Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personnel.
• Monitor and documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely and accurately
• Works on small group activities with veterans/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan.
• Utilizes equipment to promote the Veteran self-care, such as; lift equipment, Hydro sound Tubs, and Veteran/Resident Wandering System.
• Verbally provides patient information to the treatment team for inclusion in the veteran/residents' plan of care, participates in treatment team meetings for resident care planning.
• Adheres to Safe Patient Handling practices for safe body mechanics, use of mechanical devices. Uses sound judgement when requesting assistance from other staff when moving, lifting, or turning patients to prevent injury to patient, self or others.

Work Schedule: Intermittent, required to work three 8-hour shifts a month - 7:30am - 4:00pm or 3:30pm - 12:00am or 11:30pm - 8:00am
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)
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)
Functional Statement #: 55020-A, 55019-A, 55018-A

Salary : $417