Nursing Assistant (Long Term Care)

Full Job Description

Nursing Assistants function 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.

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.

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.

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; TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED 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.

PROOF OF COMPLETION/CERTIFICATION REQUIRED 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: GS-3 (Entry Level): Experience and Education: None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 (Developmental Level): 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 (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: 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.

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 (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 colors, hearing (aid may be permitted), visual acuity 20/30 corrected, mental and emotional stability.

Major Duties:

Duties will vary by grade.

At the GS-5 full performance level, The NA may perform these duties in a variety of health care settings such as outpatient, inpatient, home or community living care, acute, sub-acute.

The NA will care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions. Duties will include: The NA will care for patients/residents with acute to chronic conditions.

The NA ensures the Veteran / resident is wearing the correct identification bracelet.

The NA performs, and can mentor other NAs, in activities of daily living (ADL) by helping Veterans in their physical functioning, to include personal hygiene (bathing), eating, assisting Veterans in and out of bed/wheelchairs using proper lifting techniques and safe patient handling equipment.

NA demonstrates the need for minimal supervision and proficient skill in promoting independence in daily living activities by following the Veteran's Restorative Plan of Care.

The NA's performance demonstrates the Veteran is taught and encouraged to give as much of their self-care as is possible, while respecting the Veteran's preferences.

The NA independently follows the Restorative Plan of Care and performs range of motion exercises, turning and positioning, ambulation and other routine care procedures to complete all restorative exercises in the Plan of Care.

The NA performs and can mentor other NAs in a variety of general nursing duties competently including measurement and accurate recording of vital signs, height, weight, intake and output, smoking safety per Veteran's smoking assessment, cleansing and retention enemas, tube feeding, post- mortem care, infection control, isolation, simple treatments such as hot and cold packs, changing clean dressings, and applying external catheters.

The NA performs, under the supervision of a RN, and when assigned, catheter care, oral -pharyngeal suctioning and tracheostomy suctioning and tracheostomies that are non- complicated and at least five days old.

The NA uses aseptic technique and changes clean dressings.

The NA maintains and monitors oxygen therapy as directed by the RN, assignment or written care plan, to include management and operation of oxygen tanks.

The NA performs assistive cough and deep breathing exercises.

The NA applies binders, splints, supportive devices, braces, and other simple devices to aid Veterans in positioning for therapy, applies hot and cold packs, prepares patients for tests, examinations, and treatments.

The NA collects specimens such as urine, specimen and stool, correctly labels specimens for laboratory examinations and assures timely transportation of specimens.

The NA applies ointments, shampoos, and creams considered medications under the Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP Policy) and mentors fellow NAs in performing medication administration per policy.

The NA reviews the Veteran's /resident's treatment plan and follows the plan in performing resident care.

The NA updates the plan of care in the resident's room to remain current with IDT and/ or Nursing Care Plan in the medical record, and reports / verifies changes and discrepancies to the charge nurse.

The NA participates in CLC activity and actions to improve the quality of care for residents/Veterans to include fall intervention and prevention of pressure sores.

The NA independently implements the Veteran's / resident's specific plan of care to prevent falls with injury and pressure sores.

The NA accepts quality improvement assignments of monitoring compliance when assigned.

The NA participates in the nursing care conferences and interdisciplinary team meetings, using knowledge of the Veteran / resident and reports resident / Veteran problems, helps plan individualized care and discharge planning.

They present interventions based on the organization's guidelines on fall prevention and pressure sore prevention to meet specific needs of the resident / Veteran for inclusion in the IDT plan of care.

The NA cleans and maintains equipment independently or at the direction of the RN/LPN.

The NA inspects devises and determines if the device is safe to use, or removes the device, notifies supervisor, and implements the process to have the device repaired.

The NA assists with admission, discharge and transfer of patients. The NA orients the new resident/Veteran to the room and safety features. The NA checks in and documents resident / Veteran valuables.

The NA safely and timely escorts Veterans to and from the CLC for appointments and recreational therapy. Work Schedule: 6:00am-2:30pm, rotating weekends off.

Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized