Nursing Assistant (Medical/Surgical)

The Nursing Assistant 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.

This vacancy will remain open until filled.

Duties include:

Obtain vital signs, documents in CPRS and reports deviations to appropriate RN.
Obtains Intake and Outputs appropriately (oral intake, IV pump, feeding pump, Foley catheter, urinal, drains, etc.) and reports shift totals/deviations to RN.
Gathers information about patient condition and communicates to RN to develop specific plan of care for patient.
Recognizes subtle changes in the patient's condition, behavior and/or comfort.
Reports observations and interventions to Registered Nurse.
Provides environmental safety, security, infection control and patient privacy.
Demonstrates ability to plan and organize assignment independently.
Performs and documents Q2 hour rounding/turning.
Verbalizes and demonstrates process for obtaining lab specimens, proper labeling and immediate transport.
Recognizes and responds to impaired airway-notifying Registered Nurse.
Provides oxygen as ordered or as Registered Nurse instructs-using the appropriate equipment.
Provides care for & management of patient with chest tubes.
Performs 12-Lead ECG with correct lead placement.
Verbalizes and demonstrates the process for retrieval and placement of the telemetry unit.
Obtains urine output (i.e., bladder scan, I&O documentation, etc.) and reports finding to appropriate Registered Nurse.
Provides Foley catheter care each shift, daily or as needed.
Verbalizes process in notifying RN regarding changes in patient skin status.
Verbalizes rationale when performing Q2 hour rounding/turning requirements.
Demonstrates proper hand hygiene prior to and immediately following patient care/contact.
Demonstrates ability to locate Hand Hygiene MCM 105-11.
Verbalizes and demonstrates caring for patient in Negative Airflow or isolation precautions.
Verbalizes and demonstrates standard precautions for blood and body fluids
Verbalizes and demonstrates understanding of provide CHG baths and per RN guidelines
Verbalizes and performs blood pick-up process per Standard Operating Procedure.
Maintains SBAR per Registered Nurse guidelines
Operates patient handling equipment safely, i.e., ceiling lift, floor lift, evacuation equipment, etc.
Manage restraints under RN supervision.
Manages patient with Suicidal Ideation/Homicidal Ideation- including required documentation
Verbalizes the process of maintaining 1:1 sitter status and the required documentation for the patient.
Performs D-stick and notifies Registered Nurse with variations in results.
Attends Daily Huddles.
Identifies location of unit AED/Crash cart.
Verbalizes process for initiating Code Blue/RRT
Demonstrates the proper placement and operation of CPM machine.
Demonstrates placement, set up and functioning of Game Ready unit.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday; 7:30am - 8:00pm rotating shifts including weekends and holidays.

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: Must be proficient in written and spoken English
• [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 (must submit TRANSCRIPT with application); 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 meeting full the experience requirements for GS-3.
  
  Grade Determinations:
  In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-3 NA (Entry Level)

• Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements

GS-4 NA

• 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, healthcare 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; (must submit TRANSCRIPT with application); AND
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 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-5 NA (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. (i.) Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents. (ii.) Ability to observe patients/ residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner. (iii.) 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. (iv.) Ability to communicate effectively with patients/ residents, their families and other health professionals. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the professional KSAs in subparagraph (c)below; OR,
• Education. Successful completion of 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; (must submit TRANSCRIPT with application); AND
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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.

Preferred Experience:

• One year of experience as a nurse aide in a hospital, nursing home, home health agency, hospice, or skilled nursing facility
• Completion of Certified Nurse Aide Program
• BLS certified, Adept at handling difficult or traumatic situations with complete courtesy and professionalism
• One-year experience in oral communication and documentation in a health care related field, requiring good reading, writing, math and computer skills

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-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05.

Physical Requirements: The position will require moderate lifting (15-44 pounds), moderate carrying (15-44) pounds, straight pulling (3 hours), pushing (3 hours), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking (8 hours), standing (3.5 hours), kneeling (0.5 hours), and repeated bending (1 hour).

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

NOTE: If your school has changed names or was accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education at the time of graduation but is no longer listed on the DAPIP, U.S. Department of Education website http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/., you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.