Spinal Cord Injury Long-Term Care - Nursing Assistant

The NA is learning to perform basic nursing duties under close supervision 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.

The following are assigned duties, but not limited to, the list below with documented competency:

• Safely and effectively uses patient care equipment.
• Identifies potential and actual emergencies and takes appropriate actions.
• Implements hospital safety guidelines and maintains a safe environment for patients and staff.
• Reports all accidents to supervisor and notifies supervisor promptly of unsafe or unhealthy environmental situations/conditions.
• Maintains confidentiality of patient information.
• Sets-up, uses, reprocesses, and maintains all unit/department-specific equipment that is designed by the manufacturer to be reused for multiple patients.
• Obtains and records vital signs, pulse, temperature, respirations, blood pressure, and pain level.
• Measures and records height and weight of patients.
• Assists patients with activities of daily living (e.g., hygiene, eating, dressing and ambulation) including oral/denture care, bed baths/shower, indwelling catheter care, perineal care, foot care, and changing bed linens.
• Positions, sets-up, and assists patients with meals; ensures meal trays are removed.
• Assists with patient transfers in and out of bed.
• Assists patients to and from toilet; assists patients with any toileting needs; and keeps incontinent patients clean.
• Assists with patient admissions ensuring personal belongings are inventoried and documented.
• Assists with post-mortem care. Transports deceased bodies to morgue.
• Stocks supplies in patient care areas to ensure there are adequate supplies and equipment to meet patient care needs.
• Cleans reusable medical equipment (RME) on unit as needed.
• Documents vital signs in the electronic health record (EHR).
• Documents on the restraint and seclusion flow sheet per policy.
• Documents the care provided in EHR.
• Initiates CPR as appropriate.
• Performs bladder scan and reports findings to RN.
• Places patients on cardiac monitors as needed.
• Applies ice packs with RN delegation as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Performs 12-lead EKGs.
• Selects and applies condom catheters as needed.
• Transports patients from one unit/area to another or to clinic appointments.
• Transports specimens to lab.
• Feeds patients on Aspiration Precautions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Preferred Experience:

• 1 year or more SCI experience
• 1 year or more long-term care experience
• 1 year or more NA experience

Work Schedule: Full time, Monday - Friday, 0700-1930 or 1900-0730

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of Employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.

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: Citizen of the United States.
• 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 NA (Entry Level):

(a) Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

(b) Assignments. Individuals assigned as GS-3 NAs are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.

GS-4 NA:

(a) 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, (b) 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 (c) 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 NA (Full Performance Level):

(a) 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 (b) 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 (c) 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.
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