Nursing Assistant (Acute Care Service)

Full Job Description

The Nursing Assistant is a member of the Acute Care Team, providing assistance to the providers, nursing leadership team, registered nurses, and other team members.

This service line cares for patients admitted to an inpatient medical-surgical inpatient hospital unit (2 West, 5 East or 6 West) at VA Puget Sound.

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. 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.

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).

GRADE REQUIREMENTS. Creditable Experience. 1) Knowledge of Current Practice.

To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice. 2) Quality of Experience.

To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means. 3) Part-Time Experience.

Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek.

For example, a NA 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: 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: 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 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 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.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: 1 year patient care or CNA experience, can be at a nursing home or hospital setting.

REFERENCE: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/. 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 (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 correct, and mental and emotional stability.

Major Duties:

Participate in activity and actions to improve the quality of care for veteran patients to include fall and pressure sore prevention; that includes learning to implement the organization's prevention guidelines on falls and pressure sores, and the veteran's specific plan of care.

Adhere to responsibility of timely maintenance of all education required, including: TMS, BLS, HIPAA and Privacy training.

Supervise patients and can mentor other NAs in personal hygiene, rest and eating. Feed and bathe patients who require assistance. Help patients in and out of bed, and with mobile devices.

Instruct and assist patients in the skills necessary to gain independence in activities of daily living. Contribute to a safe, clean, clutter-free, and therapeutic environment for patients and staff.

Follow Medical Center and Nursing Service policies and procedures. Provide care to patients in isolation and patients on chemotherapy precautions. Maintain privacy of patient and staff.

Perform and can mentor other NAs in a variety of general nursing duties including measurement and recording of vital signs, EKGs, weight, height, intake and output, post-mortem care, simple treatments such as hot and cold packs, change clean or sterile dressings, apply external catheters, and give catheter care.

Maintain oxygen therapy as directed by the RN, assignment, or written care plan, to include management and operation of oxygen tanks. Perform assistive cough and deep breathing exercises.

Perform and/or instruct patients in learning range of motion exercise, turning and positioning, ambulation, and other routine care procedures.

Prepare patients for tests, examinations, treatments and for surgery. Collect specimens such as urine, sputum and stool. Label specimens for laboratory examinations.

Perform blood glucose tests as appropriate. Clean and maintain equipment with appropriate RME disinfectant.

Initiate Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation in accordance with established Medical Center policy and initiate other emergency procedures as necessary, including fire and disaster.

Demonstrate safe body mechanics. Observe and report patient's physical and mental status, reporting unusual changes to the RN.

Report information obtained from patients and or family and participate in developing a plan of care. Assist with admission, discharge, and transfer of patients.

Perform other assignments designated by the nurse in charge that are essential to the care of patients and appropriate to his/her level of training.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: 6 shifts - 12 hours from 0730-2000 and 1 shift - 8 hours from 0730-1600 (with rotating weekends/holidays as needed) 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.

Functional Statement #: 000000 Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized