Job Description
Summary
This position is located at the Lebanon VA Medical Center within Geriatrics and Extended Care.
Qualifications
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 may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3. 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
- Grandfathering Provisions: 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: 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
- 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
- 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: 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 - 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: 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
- 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
- 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: Some prior hospital experience Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
- 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: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
- This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing - lifting 45 pounds or more - reaching - stretching - and similar activities supporting various weights
- Transferring patients and objects may be required
- The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
- You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment examination or evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position
- Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation or examination.
Duties
- The primary purpose of this position is to perform a very wide range of patient personal care - support diagnostic services - and chart activities on a regular and continual basis on the Short Stay Unit
- The incumbent performs duties in such a way as to promote a sense of worth and dignity within each individual
- Major duties include - but are not limited to: Assists the RN - LPN - and other members of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) with providing input in the development of care plan based on the Veteran's care needs
- Performs support duties for diagnostic procedures - which include preparing the Veteran and monitoring the Veteran's condition
- Promotes the value of cultural transformation and Veteran-centered care to nursing staff in the community living center (CLC)
- Offer suggestions to improve the Veterans activities of daily living (ADL) functions and quality of life
- This would include suggestions for restorative or rehabilitative care
- Performs nursing care as applicable to the Veteran including all aspects of personal care and grooming
- Under the direction of the RN or licensed practical nurse (LPN) - monitor bladder and bowel functioning - tracking of I&O and hydration
- Consistently follows policies - standard operating procedures - and procedures as applicable to reusable medical equipment and infection control
- Observes Veterans and reports changes in Veteran behavior and condition to the unit charge nurse
- Reports required information for hand-off communication to charge nurse and co-workers - including to other members of the IDT - and other applicable staff and departments
- Under the direction of the RN or LPN - educates the Veterans on their care needs - as appropriate - to NA skill level
- Communicates with families and significant others as appropriate
- Under the direction of the RN or LPN - provides health care services to the Veteran to include - but not limited to: Foley Catheter insertion/discontinuation/care
- obtaining the Veteran's vital signs - blood glucose - or electrocardiogram (EKG)
- activities of daily living
- and post-mortem care
- Promptly reports any deviations from normal practice patterns to the charge nurse - nurse manager (NM) - or the nursing supervisor
- Completes all assigned routine documentation
- Takes appropriate action when indicated regarding equipment safety (Wanderguard unit - crash cart - refrigerators - etc.)
- Monitors Veterans risk for behaviors including - but not limited to: elopement
- wandering
- suicide
- fall
- behavior
- and pressure ulcer
- and taking action - when indicated - to include communicating to appropriate personnel - when further intervention is needed and completing necessary documentation
- Responds during emergencies - assisting during fire drills and responding to any safety issues as they arise
- Uses proper body mechanics and safe lifting equipment including personal protective equipment (PPE) that promotes a safe workplace
- Participates on committees or other workgroups as requested
- Participates in quality improvement activities
- Actively seeks educational opportunities to enhance nursing knowledge and skills
- Completes mandatory education requirements
- Provides nursing care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisor - higher graded or other healthcare professionals
- Performs other duties as assigned
- Total-Rewards-of-an-Allied-Health-VA-Career-Brochure.pdf Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Work Schedule: Six 12-hour shifts (6:00 p.m
- - 6:00 a.m.) and one 8-hour shift (6:00 p.m
- - 2:00 a.m.) every pay period
- Includes 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
- 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) 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
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About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
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