Nursing Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Janesville (WI); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs seeks a Nursing Assistant to provide direct patient care under supervision in Primary Care Clinics. You will assist with patient intake, check in patients for appointments via face-to-face, telephone, or VA Video Connect, and document intake data per policy.

Applicants may be tentatively selected while meeting education or certification requirements. This position falls under GS-3 to GS-5 with related KSAs and grandfathering provisions for eligible VA

Qualifications

• Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
• Ability to observe patients' physical or emotional status and refer deviations to supervisor.
• Ability to use basic equipment and perform simple diagnostic/therapeutic tasks.
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families and health professionals.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care under supervision of RN, LPN or provider.
• Interview patients and/or families and document intake data per policy.
• Check patients in for appointments via face-to-face, telephone or VA Video Connect.

Skills

Patient care

Observation of status

Medical equipment use

Clinical communication

Education

One year of education above high school

Two years above high school in related field

Bachelor's degree with 24 hours in healthcare

Job description

The Nursing Assistant provides direct patient care activities under the supervision of the RN, LPN, Providers within the Primary Care Clinics. Checks patients into the clinic appointment utilizing face-to-face, telephonic, or VA Video Connect 0JVC) technologies to interview patient and/or significant other, and documents intake data as per policy. 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: Citizen of the United States. 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
• English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d).

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

In addition to the basic requirements listed above, you must meet the grade requirements at one of the following grade levels to qualify for this position.

GS-3

• Experience and Education:None beyond the basic requirements.

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):
  • 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 resident's 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

• Experience: One (1) 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 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.

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-03to GS-05.

Physical Requirements: Work requires the incumbent to be mobile throughout the annex and CBOCs as needed, involving sitting, standing, walking, bending, pushing, and lifting (moderate-heavy).