Summary

The Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the nursing team and under the guidance of the Registered Nurse (RN) in the care of patients. First Area of consideration: VA Caribbean Healthcare System Current Permanent Employees. Second Area of consideration: The Public.

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 or 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 meeting 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)
• Grade Determinations: GS-3 Nursing Assistant: Nothing beyond the indicated basic requirements above
• GS-4 Nursing assistant: Experience: One year of specialized experience as a CNA 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 Demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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 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 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 Demonstrate the following Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (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: Patient Care previous experience - preferred
• Spanish proficiency - requried
• 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: This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with direct patient care duties performed by nurses such as long periods of continued walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to
• moderate lifting - 15-44 pounds - Moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds - straight pulling 4 hours - pushing 4 hours - reaching above shoulder - both hands required - walking 8 hours - standing 8 hours - repeated bending 4 hours - both legs required - both eyes required ability to distinguish basic colors - ability to distinguish shades of colors - hearing (aid permitted) - wearing a face respirator - wearing personal protective equipment - working with hands in water - working closely with others - protracted or irregular hours of work and required use of safe patient handling and mobility equipment to assist in the movement of patients/person served/residents and objects
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients/person served/residents and contaminated materials and may be required to use protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients/person served/residents who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• The NA must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment
• These physical requirements will be consistent with VA Directive Handbook 5019

Duties

• The Nursing Assistant (NA) functions as a member of the nursing team and under the guidance of the Registered Nurse (RN) in the care of patients
• The Nursing Assistant must have knowledge - skills - a strong work ethic - and a patient-driven orientation to provide quality patient care - as well as to provide verbal and written documentation - provide safe and individualized care to patients who are in the inpatient medicine and rehabilitation care setting
• She/he must have knowledge of medical terminology and possess enough skills to apply practice to ensure the appropriate/safe use of equipment and supplies
• The Nursing Assistant must have knowledge of the principles of infection control and principles of safety and be able to recognize urgent/emergent situations
• Recognizes the correlation between patients/person served/residents behavior and physical condition has skill in modifying approaches to meet individual patients/person served/residents needs and understands simple scientific facts and principles
• In organizing and delivering care - the Nursing Assistant recognizes and considers emotional - cultural - spiritual - and age-related factors
• Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts - weekends and holidays Telework: Not available
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.