Community Living Center Nursing Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; West Palm Beach (FL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs invites applications for Nursing Assistant positions at the Community Living Center in Florida.

This GS-03 to GS-05 opportunity emphasizes holistic geriatric care, compassionate service, and adherence to cultural transformation toward a home-like environment. Qualifications include either one year of nursing-related experience or two years of higher education with health care courses; GS-05 requires four years of education or a bachelor's degree with 24

Qualifications

• One year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or in another medical field.
• Two years of higher education with courses related to nursing care or health care.
• Four-year course of study above high school with health care courses or a bachelor's degree.

Responsibilities

• Provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the nurse care plan and recovery.
• Observe patients/residents' physical or emotional status and refer deviations to supervisor.
• Properly use equipment and supplies for basic diagnostics and treatments.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and health professionals.

Skills

Nursing Assistant Experience

Healthcare Education

Communication Skills

Observation Skills

Equipment Handling

Education

Two years above high school with nursing/health care courses

Bachelor’s degree with 24 health care hours or 4-year degree

Job description

The Community Living Center is a mix of short stay rehabilitation, long term and palliative care residents. He/she approaches each resident's care from a holistic perspective focusing on the resident's physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. Must be able to give compassionate care to the geriatric resident population, with excellent customer service. He/she must embrace Cultural Transformation and the efforts to transform the CLC into a "home like environment".

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.

GS-03

None beyond the basic requirements. NAs at this grade NAs are considered entry-level and are closely supervised.

GS-04

To qualify at the GS-4 level you must meet the following:

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of experience as a Nursing Assistant or 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 two (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, in addition you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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 residents' 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-05

To qualify at the GS-5 level you must meet the following:

• EXPERIENCE: One (1) year of progressively responsible assignments and experience equivalent to the GS-4 level which demonstrates knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that are directly related to the specific assignment. Specialized experience includes but is not limited to functioning as a member of the nursing care team and assisting licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the full range of nursing care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home, or community living care or other patients/residents who are receiving preventative, acute, sub-acute, chronic, maintenance, and hospice care. OR,
• EDUCATION: Successful completion of 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 you must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (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:

• Certified Nursing Assistant, Long Term or Short Term Rehabilitation experience

Physical Requirements:

This position includes a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nursing assistants such as direct patient care, and potentially long periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, repeated bending, or kneeling. See VA Handbook 5019 and local NA physical standards.

Examples may include but are not limited to:

• Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients.
• Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols.

This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments.

Reference:

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS5.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS3 to GS5.