Nursing Assistant-Long Term Care

Description:

The PFC James Dunn VA Clinic located in Pueblo Colorado is currently recruiting for one Nursing Assistant GS 3 target 5 to work in the long-term care, Geriatrics and Extended Care, GEC Unit.

Requirements:

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 :

• Citizenship Must be a US citizen. Non-citizens may be appointed when it's not possible to recruit qualified US citizens
• English Language Proficiency Psychologists must be proficient in spoken & written English
• Experience or Education or Training.
• 1) Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA;
• OR
• 2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation;
• OR
• 3) 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.

Grandfathering Provisions. All Nursing Assistants, NAs employed in VHA on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the series and grade held that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply:1) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard.2) If an employee who was retained (grandfathered) under this provision leaves the occupation, the employee loses protected status of the grandfathering provision and must meet the full VA qualification standard basic requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation.

Grade Determinations : The following criteria must be met in addition to the Basic Requirements for employment listed above when determining the candidate's grade.

GS-3 NA, Entry Level

Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

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. Candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition GS-4 experience or education requirements listed above.

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 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.

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. Candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs in addition to the GS-5 experience or education requirements listed above.

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.

Preferred Experience: At least 1 year experience working with Geriatric, Dementia and Behavioral Health residents. Knowledgeable providing all aspects of care/Assisted Daily Livings, ADLs for residents including collecting vital signs, input/output, weights, feeding, providing hygiene care, and using lift equipment, and possess a state issued Nursing Assistant Certification.

Reference: please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ for qualification standards information

The full performance level of this vacancy is a GS-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is a GS-3 to a GS-5.

Physical Requirements:

Requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech & manual dexterity.
Long periods of continued walking, standing, stooping, sitting, bending, pulling & pushing.
Assisting with transferring patients to wheelchairs/litters & transporting them to other departments.
Occasionally moving equipment/objects in excess of 40lbs.Requires walking up & down several flights of stairs in response to all emergency codes.
Transferring patients & objects may be required. Mechanical inpatient lifts are provided.
May be exposed to infected patients & contaminated materials & may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations.
May occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium, dementia or psychiatric disorders.
Must be a mature, flexible, sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations & able to shift priorities based on patient needs.
Must complete annual Employee Health requirements such as annual TB screening or testing as a condition of employment.
Must be able to pass and maintain Basic Life Support, BLS certification or higher.