Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant assigned to the Community Living Center (CLC) provides safe and individualized resident care to complex, frail and mostly elderly residents who are chronically ill in a home environment.

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:

Citizenship. Citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, this part.)

Education or Training. One year above high school with courses related to the NA 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.

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.

Grade Determinations:

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
In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following 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.

Preferred Experience: None

References: VA Handbook 5005/81 Part II Appendix G46. March 12, 2015

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05.

Physical Requirements: Physical aspects associated with work required of this assignment are typical for the occupation, see Duties section for essential job duties of the position. May require standing, lifting, carrying, sitting, stooping, bending, pulling, and pushing. May be required to wear personal protective equipment and undergo annual TB screening or testing as conditions of employment.

Responsibilities:

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Performs/assist with resident's Activities of Daily Living (ADL) as per the resident's required level of assistance including functional mobility, transfers, personal hygiene, grooming, bathing, toileting, dressing, transfers, ambulation and feeding.
• Ensures/verifies meal consumption for each resident by either asking resident about his/her food intake including food brought from off premises, verbal prompting to encourage resident to eat, physically guiding resident or feeding residents that require full physical assistance.
• Utilizes adaptive feeding equipment.
• Adheres to dysphagia and aspiration precautions.
• Ensures/verifies consumption of snacks and supplements.
• Performs hydration rounds including residents with enteral tubes to avoid dehydration and other medical complications.
• Performs, assist or cues for appropriate dental mouth hygiene and understands the correlation between mouth care and pneumonia. Utilizes "Mouth Care without a Battle" techniques as established.
• Performs, assist or cues in resident bath including hair and complete body. Bed bath with wipes is performed in between showers. Perianal care is provided as needed to ensure resident is clean and dry. Utilizes "Bathing Without a Battle" (BWB) techniques, as needed.
• Monitors for need of tracheostomy care and notifies RN or LPN to perform procedure.
• Assures oxygen therapy is connected as per order. Positions resident to promote breathing and to maintain airway.
• Assists patients with incentive spirometry.
• Performs bowel care effectively according to the resident bowel care program to avoid bowel accidents, constipation, and autonomy dysreflexia. Monitors for signs and symptoms of constipation including bowel movement patterns.
• Implements nursing interventions to prevent Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) including Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI). Always maintains urinary drainage bags covered, fixed, below bladder level and less than half full.
• Implements skin and wound care program interventions as per policy
• Assists residents out of bed at least 2 hours daily or according to the resident's person-centered care plan.
• Ensures/encourages residents to be out of bed/room in civilian clothing. Uses principles of body mechanics and utilizes safe resident handling and management techniques.
• Enhances and/or maintains resident's dignity by maintaining feet/hand nails trimmed and clean. Ensures to notify RN when toenails need care by a specialized service.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Rotating shifts to include weekends and holidays. Subject to change based on needs of the facility.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 00195F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $43,844 - $57,002