Career Center

Summary

The Battle Creek VA Medical Center is recruiting for Nursing Assistants to provide care to our Veterans within Mental Health Nursing. This position will be our Inpatient Mental Health or Residential Units. ***This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT. Eligible applicants will be referred until all vacancies are filled.***

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
• Experience - Education or Training: Six months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA OR One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation OR Completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related training course of study or program of less than one year as a NA
• Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 - Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements
• 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
• 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)
• All NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: (1) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• (2) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation - the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates
• GS-3 Entry Level Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 Nursing Assistant 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 all 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 Nursing Assistant 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 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 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: Nursing Assistant with Mental Health 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. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45lbs and over)
• Heavy carrying (45lbs and over)
• Straight pulling (up to an hour) Pushing (1-2 hours)
• Reaching above shoulder
• Use of fingers and both hands is required
• Walking (up to 6 hours)
• Standing (up to 6 hours)
• Repeated bending (up to 2 hours)
• Both legs required
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" - Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other
• Ability to distinguish basic colors
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• Mental and emotional stability.

Duties

• Nursing Assistant function as a member of the health care team and provides direct patient care to inpatient Veterans at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center
• The Nursing Assistants are expected to provide direct resident care including bathing - grooming - dressing - oral care - feeding - toileting - transferring - turning and engaging the residents in meaningful activities and restorative nursing programs
• The Nursing Assistant serves as a member to the interdisciplinary care team and engages with the resident - the resident's family and other members of the care team designing and implementing the resident's unique plan of care
• The Nursing Assistant performs a variety of personal nursing care duties which include but are not limited to: Maintaining a safe physical environment
• Recognizing potentially hazardous conditions on the neighborhoods and reporting them to the Registered Nurse (RN)
• Taking and charting vital signs - height and weight
• Completing complex nursing procedures including bathing - hygiene - grooming - dressing - toileting - oral suctioning - catheterization - colostomy irrigation and care - caring for residents with supplemental oxygen therapy and assisting the Physician or RN with physical examinations and procedures
• Engaging the residents in meaningful activities
• Observing and documenting disturbed behaviors and working with the interdisciplinary team on managing resident's behaviors and improving resident comfort
• Charting residents' physical and emotional responses and progress - describing subtle behavioral changes and interactions with other - and reporting and recording care
• Work Schedule: Full-Time - Sunday through Saturday - 7:00 p.m
• to 7:30 a.m
• Or 7:00 am to 7:30pm
• 80 hours per pay period (2 weeks)
• Hours may be rotated or extended based on the needs of the Medical Center and our Veterans
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 93535A/93536A/93537A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized