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Nursing Assistant

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Veterans Health Administration
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) Nursing Assistant communicates with and observes patients during escorting procedures and ensures patient safety. Provides nursing care to chronically and/or acutely ill patients under the minimal direction of the Registered Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, and/or the physician.

Overview

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Job canceled
Open & closing dates
06/07/2024 to 06/21/2024
Salary
$41,477 to - $67,714 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 3 - 5
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Reno, NV
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
5
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBSW-12438686-24-HR
Control number
794885100

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Duties

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Duties and Support Inpatient
* Collecting Specimens: sputum, urine (routine & sterile), feces, and others as directed by
team lead for storage and delivery to lab according to unit standard.
* Notify nurse of change in patient's condition and/or hazardous environments; including VS,
physical or behavioral S&S, psychosocial, supply and/or equipment issues.
* Under the guidance of the nurse or provider, prepares and positions the patient and arranges
and passes medical supplies and materials to the providers or nurses for a variety of
diagnostic tests.
* Activities of Daily Living: bathing, feeding, oral care, hair care and other personal hygiene
duties and range of motion activities.
* Applies ointments, creams, shampoos, solutions, etc. per facility policy.
* Sets up meals, documents consumption, and reports changes in appetite. Able to count
calories.
* Assists with bladder and bowel care, documents output, and reinforces patient education.
* Turning patients as ordered.
* Transfers and Lifts: Mobility of patients safely. Use of lift/transfer equipment and good
body mechanics per safe patient handling.
* Applies and removes compression, antiembolitic stockings (TEDS), and sequential sleeves
as directed by nurse.
* Applies simple non-sterile dressings and removes non-sterile dressings under the direction
of the nurse or provider i.e. PEG, suprapubic catheters, drains.
* Urinary Catheter Care per facility policy.

Duties and Support Outpatient
* Supports hospital wide COVID efforts, to include door monitoring, working in multiple
clinic locations, working in COVID tent, inpatient, outpatient and administrative areas
- Collects health history, complete clinical reminders, informs RN and PCP of information
as needed, works collaboratively and effectively within PC and PACT team
* Supports hospital wide influenza efforts, collects health screenings as needed, provides
support to all aspects of outpatient needs both in and out of the hospital.
* Collecting COVID/Influenza/Strep swabs per protocol, properly labeling/bagging
specimens and delivering to lab
* Performs procedures within scope of practice, to include EKG's, ear lavages, simple
dressing changes, catheter changes, etc. under the direction of a provider/nurse and records
and reports results.
* Administers vaccinations per protocol, within scope of practice under the direction and
supervision of the Nurse Manager, RN or PCP

Additional Duties and Support
*Accurately collects, records, and reports vital signs, height, and weight according to unit
standard.
* Reports behaviors and threats of patient harm to self and others; taking action to keep patient safe.
* Maintains cleanliness of patient care area.
* Documents patient care, data collected, and treatment provided and observed in EMR using
medical terminology.
* Active member of the Interdisciplinary Team.
* Adheres to unit and Organizational Policies, Directives and procedures.
* Obtains necessary supplies and equipment - exercising conservation in all patient areas.
* Performs administrative duties as needed to include but not limited to: filing medical
records, data entry, answering phones.

Work Schedule: Full Time, 40 hours per week, shift work, weekends, days, evenings, nights and holidays.
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Must be proficient in written and spoken English
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:
1. United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
2. Education or Training. One year above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation. Completion of an intensive, specialized, occupation-related course of study of less than one year as a nursing assistant may also meet in full the experience requirements for GS-3.
3. English Language Proficiency. Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Additional/Preferred Qualifications: BLS Certification required

Grade Determinations
GS-3 Nursing Assistant (Entry Level). Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 Nursing Assistant.
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). 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 Nursing Assistant (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.

References: VA Handbook 5005/81, Part II, Appendix G46, Nursing Assistant Qualifications Standard, GS-621

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05.

Physical Requirements: Duties require extensive period of standing, sitting and walking. Working with patients requires regular and recurring bending, lifting, stooping, stretching and similar activities. The employee provides physical restraints for confused or combative patients as necessary. The nursing assistant must be physically able to lift to meet the physical standards of the position as evaluated by Employee Health.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

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