Nursing Assistant

Summary

The Eastern Oklahoma VA Health Care System located in Muskogee - CO is currently recruiting for one Nursing Assistant GS 5 to work in Mental Health Service.

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
• 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
• 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. Grade Determinations:GS-3 Experience and Education
• None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4 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 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 listed 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: Mental Health Tech experience preferred but not required
• 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 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
• 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
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients 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

• Nursing Assistant - vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Total-Rewards-of-a-Nursing-Assistant-Career-Flyer.pdf Adheres to VA and Nursing policies - procedures - and standards
• Delivers care to patients in a respectful - non-judgmental manner
• Maintains patient privacy/confidentiality and patient rights to privacy/confidentiality
• Sets limits within the Nursing Assistant/patient relationship - which are clearly defined
• Participates in selected Continuous Improvement (CI) activities as directed
• Assists with selected activities related to patient admission/transfer and discharge
• Collect's patient information including observation of overall condition
• Recognizes and reports obvious changes in patient condition including emergencies
• Takes appropriate actions in response to patient emergent situations
• Accurately documents patient information in CPRS
• Provides patient information to the accountable RN for inclusion in the patient's plan of care
• Completes assignment - reports to the accountable RN when assignment has been completed or when unable to complete activities
• Uses appropriate lifting/moving/transfer techniques/devices
• Utilizes infection control and universal standard precautions
• Adjusts to assignment changes
• Participates in the interdisciplinary team care planning and delivery of care process
• Assists in the implementation of the psychiatric treatment program as assigned
• Related to stages of adult development: Describes relationship of developmental stages to provision of nursing care
• Identifies selected developmental tasks - related stages of adult development and approximate age range of each stage
• Provides input to RN related to patient's stage of adult development
• Provides care to patients in a variety of stages of adult development
• Supports the health care team through the reinforcement of patient education
• Safely performs the following functions: Provides routine hygienic/activities of daily living care
• Performs actions targeted to the maintenance/restoration of skin integrity
• Collects patient specimens
• Administers a variety of comfort measures
• Takes vital signs after completion of orientation and competency validation
• Follows seizure precautions as directed
• Transports patients with oxygen
• Appropriately uses protective/restraining devices
• Feed's patients orally including those who are at risk for aspiration - after appropriate training
• Uses therapeutic cushions appropriately
• Report's situations including: changes in behavior - wandering - sundowning - sleep disturbances - inappropriate sexual behavior - aggressive behavior - hallucinations (visual/auditory) - incontinence - swallowing problems - vital signs Recognizes communication barriers: sensory deficits ie: hearing aid/s - vision loss stage of disease ie: stroke - end of life Demonstrates correct moving and transferring techniques - including: mechanics of stand/pivot transfer repositioning from the front and rear lift approach slide board transfer use of transfer belt use of Transportation devices use of patient lifts use of side rail and trapeze Demonstrates correct use of assistive devices for eating - including: eating utensils plate guard Demonstrates correct use of assistive devices for dressing - including: reachers shoehorn dressing sticks button hooks zipper pulls Promotes correct use of ambulation devices: walker (regular and with wheels) 3-point cane Crutches Hemi-Walker and cane Demonstrates ability to assist patient dressing skills
• Assists with toileting activities as appropriate
• Monitors patients in restraints - seclusion/1:1 observation per unit policy
• Other duties as assigned by grade level
• Work Schedule: 6:30pm - 7:00am including rotating weekends and holidays
• 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) 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) Telework: Not Available
• Functional Statement #: 623-50941-A
• 623-50942-A
• 623-50943-A