Nursing Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Fort Salonga (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

The US Department of Veterans Affairs' Northport VA Medical Center in New York is seeking an experienced Nursing Assistant to join the Infection Control team. The role focuses on cleaning and disinfecting non-critical reusable medical devices used across the facility to support patient care, with daily walks through inpatient, outpatient, and Community Living Center units.

Applicants may be tentatively selected while education or certification requirements are finalized; the position requires

Qualifications

• United States Citizenship required; non-citizens may be appointed per VA policy.
• Six months general experience or one year of related education or training.
• Completion of an intensive NA training course of less than one year may meet experience.
• Grandfathering provision may apply for current VA employees in this occupation.

Responsibilities

• Clean and disinfect non-critical reusable medical devices facility-wide.
• Walk daily through inpatient, outpatient, and CLC units.
• Assist with basic nursing tasks under RN supervision.
• Follow infection control protocols and report deviations.

Skills

Nursing care

Observation skills

Equipment operation

Communication skills

Education

High school + 2 years related coursework

Bachelor's degree with health care courses

Job description

The VAMC in Northport NY is seeking an experienced Nursing Assistant to function as part of the Infection Control team.

The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the team focusing on properly cleaning and disinfecting non-critical reusable medical devices (RMD) utilized facility wide for patient/resident care. This NA role involves walking daily throughout the facility to all inpatient, outpatient, and CLC units. 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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• 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.

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).

Grade Determinations

GS-3 Nursing Assistant.

None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 Nursing Assistant.

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).

• 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 residents' 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 Nursing Assistant.

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

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (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.
• 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.

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.

Examples may include but are not limited to:

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

Position specific duties/expectations are detailed in the associated competency and should be performed once the competency has been validated. This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments.

See VA Handbook 5019 and local NA physical standards.

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-05. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-03 to GS-05.

Physical Requirements:

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.