Career Center

Summary

This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) - a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval - award amount (up to $200 -000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.

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
• Grade Determinations:GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level) Preferred Experience: This position includes preferred experience in the form of an Associates or Bachelor's Degree - 2-5 Years of recent medical/surgical nursing Assistant Experience and/or 2/5 years recent direct patient care experience
• (a) Experience [and] Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• (b) Assignments
• Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are at the entry level and are closely supervised
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant: (a) Experience
• One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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 - (b) 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 (c) 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 residents' 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 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
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019
• The population of male and female veterans served ranges from adult - age 18 - to the elderly adult - age 65 and over
• The VA Medical center is a major interdisciplinary teaching facility - serving medical - surgical - and neurological inpatients and outpatients
• There is a large outpatient psychiatric population - with admissions for medical co-morbidities
• 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
• References: VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Appendix G46 - Nursing Assistant qualification Standard 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. 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).

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Duties: Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to receive glucose readings for veterans refers deviation to appropriate health care staff
• Provides direct care for complex veterans
• 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
• Documents care given - observations and responses on appropriate tools or forms
• Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personal
• Administers complete tracheostomy care - including suctioning
• Monitor and documents patient intake and output reports deviations timely and accurately
• Performs nursing procedures within scope of practice and according to policies and standard procedures to care for the veteran for such procedures but not limited to: enemas - catheterization - colostomy care - skin care simple dressing - application of braces and prosthetic devices
• Works on small group activities with veterans/residents according to the patients/resident treatment plan
• Recognizes the residents' autonomy and promotes independence by means of respect - limit setting and individualized treatment
• Actively participates in Treatment Planning Meetings
• 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
• Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart - utilizing appropriate formats
• Work Schedule: 07:30-2000
• 1930-0800 EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive
• Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov - the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance
• Learn more 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) 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) Telework: Not eligible for telework Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 534-55906F - 534-55903F - 534-55905F Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized