Nursing Assistant

The Nursing Assistant is an integral part of the care team in providing care to the veterans that the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital serves. The Nursing Assistant is responsible for the delivery of patient care under the direction of a Registered Nurse, Advanced Practice Nurse / Physician Assistant, or Physician.
1-5 years current experience in Hospice/Long Term Care and Rehab

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.

1-5 years of long-term care experience preferred.

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

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

Certification as a CNA by a State is preferred but not a basic requirement for all grade levels.

Current, Permanent VA/VHA Employees must upload a copy of the most recent 2023 SF-50 (that is not for an award), indicating current VA/VHA employment.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS for GS 3:

• None beyond basic qualifications.

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

GRADE REQUIREMENTS for 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:
  • 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.

GRADE REQUIREMENTS for 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 identified 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 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs). 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.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).The full performance level of this vacancy is 5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of 3 to 5.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-5 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-4. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

Physical Requirements:
Heavy lifting and carrying, strait pulling, pulling hand over hand, pushing, reaching above shoulder, use of fingers and both hands/legs/eyes (limb prosthesis allowed if functionally equivalent), walking and standing, crawling and kneeling, repeated bending, climbing, hearing (aid permitted), ability to perform PMDB and BLS, patient lifting (mechanical assistance available), emotional and mental stability, ability to read medication labels and equipment manuals, ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously.

Responsibilities:

FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This summary is neither inclusive nor exclusive of duties and responsibilities of the NA as a recognized essential member of the health care team duties and responsibilities assigned are consistent with the certification, skill, and knowledge of the NA GS - 5.

• Practices within the scope and certification of a CNA in the nursing unit, clinic, area of assignment and demonstrates consistent practice when temporarily assigned to related nursing units and clinics.
• Provides care and services to multiple populations served and admitted to the nursing unit, clinic, area of assignment as determined by the patient/resident need for nursing care and services.
• Provides care of patients/residents and their environment contributing to optimizing patient/resident outcomes as a member of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team.
• Provides direct patient/resident care in the provision of the psychological, physical, social and cultural activities of daily living, complete and supportive.
• Provides for the care of patients/residents with dignity and continuous consideration of the individuals emotional needs.
• Provides reporting, communication and documentation in the computerized patient record system with other members of the multi-disciplinary healthcare team.
• Maintains certification, BCLS, and currency in required education and training as identified by regulating agencies, Hines VA Hospital, VISN and National Agencies.
• The NA demonstrates competency and consistency in the technical use of equipment, application of technical standards and performance of administrative support duties.
• Demonstrates competency in all GS 3 and GS 4 NA skills and but not limited to:
  • Sterile surgical dressing changes including but not limited to dry dressing over the gastrostomy tube, and any dressing that do not include treatments. Care of patients with PICCs and CVCs, Care of patients with chest tubes, ventilator patients, tracheotomy patients, and assists with leading patient activity groups.
• The NA demonstrates knowledge of and compliance with standard operating procedures for the maintenance of reusable medical equipment.
• The NA participates in Medical Center activities and demonstrates skills and behaviors that provide and promote positive internal and external customer relationships.
• The NA attends unit level and Medical Center meetings and develops as an employee to support committee participation.
• The NA maintains patient/resident safety standards assuring patient /resident privacy, patient/resident physical safety, and patient/resident psychological safety.
• The NA establishes working relationships with multi-disciplinary and multi-level members of the work team promoting the physical, psychological and emotional safety of the working environment for all team members.
• The NA provides assistance and support to the Registered Nurse and/or provider within the scope of the CNA certification/grade and consistent with Medical Center policy.
• The NA demonstrates the knowledge and skills to provide care and services consistent with Infection Control Standards of Practice providing optimal outcomes for patients, residents, visitors and employees.
• The NA recognizes, responds and initiates appropriate level response to medical emergency such as cardiac and/or respiratory failure.

CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUIREMENTS:
Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital embraces patient-family centered care principles.

• The incumbent practices good customer service in all work activities. Must be poised and articulate in communicating with people of varied educational levels and varied ethnic backgrounds.
• Makes caring for the veteran his/her priority while in the work setting and demonstrated customer service principles in all aspects of work.
• Willing to work cooperatively as a member of a team in all assignments.
• Works closely within the department of nursing to provide a warm hand off when patients transition from an outpatient to an inpatient status.

CNA Certification is preferred but not a basic requirement for all grade levels.

Current, Permanent VA/VHA Employees must upload a copy of the most recent 2023 SF-50 (that is not for an award), indicating current VA/VHA employment.

Preferred Experience:

• CNA preferred.
• BLS required.
• 1-5 years current experience in Hospice/Long Term Care and Rehab.

Work Schedule: 12-hour night shift 7:30pm-8:00am with 2 weekends a month and rotating holidays. Occasional shift rotation as required. Floating as needed.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required.

Salary : $36,611 - $59,779