The Malcom Randall VAMC is recruiting for Nursing Assistant within Nursing Acute Care. The Nursing Assistant will provide a range of assistance and support for veteran patients by providing personal patient care, support for diagnostic procedures, performing technical nursing treatments as delegated by Nursing staff, appropriate documentation and offering basic patient instruction under the guidance of a Registered Nurse.
Preferred Experience: Minimum 2 years geriatrics, long term care, and/or medical surgical clinical experience preferred. Previous experience with medical surgical population preferred. Ability and willingness to provide direct patient care, complete unlicensed treatments and documentation. Demonstrated dependability and flexibility. Demonstrated strong organizational skills and problem solving abilities. Excellent skills in interpersonal relations with the health care team and general public; strong/family advocate. Strong computer and organizational skills. Demonstrates ability to perform assignment with minimal direct supervision. Team player who is proactive to change. Important individual characteristics: creativity, flexibility, ability to work in fast-paced changing environment. 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. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates. 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 meet in 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 NA (Entry Level) Experience and Education - None beyond the basic requirements. Assignments - Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are at the entry level and are closely supervised. 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 residents 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: Direct patient care in an inpatient setting Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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. Transferring patients and objects may be required.
Duties include, but are not limited to: 1. Performs personal care, diagnostic support duties and treatments according to procedure under the direction of the professional nurse. 2. Responds to patient's nursing needs, including physical comfort, and emotional needs and recognizing deviations from the normal. 3. Participates and reinforces resources and referrals. 4. Serves as a member of the interdisciplinary team, interacting with patients, families, professionals and supportive personnel. 5. Organizes patient care assignments to meet the needs of the patients. 6. Participates in planning nursing care, recognizing changing needs and prioritizing assignments. 7. Identifies changes in patient condition, both physical and emotional. 8. Participates in Health Care Team meetings. 9. Reinforces patient & family teaching including teaching patient & families with complex learning needs. 10. Completes required patient care documentation and records significant observations and actions. 11. Maintains a safe, clean, therapeutic environment and adheres to infection control guidelines. 12. Participates in accomplishing unit maintenance tasks which includes checking equipment to ensure that it is functioning safely. 13. Practices aseptic techniques during sterile procedures. 14. Treats customers in a courteous and helpful manner. 15. Communicates, both oral and written, are done in a professional. 16. Interacts with visitors/staff in a courteous, thoughtful, and caring manner using tact, discretion and patience when explaining policies. 17. Displays a helpful, proactive attitude toward customers by answering questions and resolving problems. 18. Accepts assignments willingly, volunteers to help others, and works cooperatively and effectively with co-workers and supervisors. 19. Consistently practices customer service performance expectations as established. 20. Ensures confidential information is always times safeguarded. Work Schedule: Day and night, 12 hour, shifts with rotating weekends and holidays available. Flexible to meet needs of organization Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Functional Statement #: 51225F, 51226F, 51227F 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). Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior [work experience] or military service experience. 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)