Nursing Assistant (Long Term Care)

The Nursing Assistant provides clinical support for the adult and geriatric Veteran under the direction of the RN and LPN. The Nursing Assistant on the Community Living Center practices and adheres to a high level of respect and knowledge of Veteran rights to protect the vulnerable and frail Veterans.

Qualifications:

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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 or Education or Training.
  • (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

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-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:

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 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.

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.

Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 pounds and over), straight pulling (6 hours), pushing (2 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (6 hours), standing (2 hours), repeated bending (6 hours), ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), visual acuity 20/30 corrected, mental and emotional stability.

Responsibilities:

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional

At the GS-5 full performance level, the nursing assistant assists 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. Duties will include:

• The Nursing Assistant ensures the Veteran / resident is wearing the correct identification bracelet.
• The Nursing Assistant performs, and can mentor other CNAs, in activities of daily living (ADL) by helping Veterans in their physical functioning, to include personal hygiene (bathing), eating, assisting Veterans in and out of bed/wheelchairs using proper lifting techniques and safe patient handling equipment.
• Nursing Assistant demonstrates the need for minimal supervision and proficient skill in promoting independence in daily living activities by following the Veteran's Restorative Plan of Care.
• The Nursing Assistant independently follows the Restorative Plan of Care and performs range of motion exercises, turning and positioning, ambulation and other routine care procedures to complete all restorative exercises in the Plan of Care.
• The Nursing Assistant follows the Restorative Plan of Care and performs range of motion exercises, turning and positioning, ambulation and other routine care procedures to complete all restorative exercises in the Plan of Care.
• The Nursing Assistant performs and can mentor other CNAs in a variety of general nursing duties competently including measurement and accurate recording of vital signs, height, weight, intake and output, smoking safety per Veteran's smoking assessment, cleansing and retention enemas, tube feeding, post-mortem care, infection control, isolation, simple treatments such as hot and cold packs, changing clean dressings, and applying external catheters.
• The Nursing Assistant performs, under the supervision of a Registered Nurse, and when assigned, catheter care, oral -pharyngeal suctioning and tracheostomy suctioning and tracheostomies that are non-complicated and at least five days old.
• The Nursing Assistant uses aseptic technique and changes clean dressings.
• The Nursing Assistant maintains and monitors oxygen therapy as directed by the RN, assignment or written care plan, to include management and operation of oxygen tanks.
• The Nursing Assistant applies binders, splints, supportive devices, braces, and other simple devices to aid Veterans in positioning for therapy, applies hot and cold packs, prepares patients for tests, examinations, and treatments.
• The Nursing Assistant collects specimens such as urine, specimen and stool, correctly labels specimens for laboratory examinations and assures timely transportation of specimens.
• The Nursing Assistant applies ointments, shampoos, and creams considered medications under the Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP Policy) and mentors fellow CNAs in performing medication administration per policy.
• The Nursing Assistant reviews the Veteran's /resident's treatment plan and follows the plan in performing resident care. The Nursing Assistant updates the plan of care in the resident's room to remain current with IDT and/ or Nursing Care Plan in the medical record, and reports / verifies changes and discrepancies to the charge nurse.
• The Nursing Assistant participates in CLC activity and actions to improve the quality of care for residents/Veterans to include fall l) intervention and prevention of pressure sores. The Nursing Assistant independently implements the Veteran's / resident's specific plan of care to prevent falls with injury and pressure sores. The Nursing Assistant accepts quality improvement assignments of monitoring compliance when assigned.

Work Schedule: 2pm-10:30pm, rotating weekends and holidays
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases.
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)
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 Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized.

Salary : $417