Nursing Assistant

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Lyons (NJ); On-site; USD 37,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Federal health insurance

Job summary

The Lyons VA Medical Center's Geriatrics and Extended Care unit seeks an experienced Nursing Assistant to join the care team supporting outpatients, home/community residents, and patients in varying states of illness.

Applicants may qualify with six months of general experience or formal education and must demonstrate KSAs for patient care, communication, and teamwork within a federal VA setting.

Qualifications

• Six months of general experience or equivalent education.
• Eligible for GS-3 to GS-5 as Nursing Assistant.
• Ability to perform nursing care under supervision.

Responsibilities

• Assist with bathing, grooming, toileting, and mobility.
• Document routine vital signs and report changes.
• Provide patient/resident care in hospital, LTC, or outpatient settings.

Skills

Nursing Assistant duties

Patient care

Vital signs monitoring

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

NA training/certification

Job description

Summary

The Geriatrics and Extended Care unit at the Lyons VA Medical Center is looking for an experience Nursing Assistant (NA). The Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists other team members including licensed nursing staff - in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care - home or community living care - or other patients who are in acute - sub-acute - or chronic states of illness

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

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• Six months of general experience
• Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of an 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: Nothing beyond the indicated basic requirements above GS-4 Nursing assistant: Experience: One year of specialized experience as a CNA 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 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 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
• 4
• 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 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 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: One to two years long-term care experience 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 Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Job Duties to include but are not limited to: Personal Care & Comfort Assists with bathing - grooming - oral care - dressing - toileting - continence care - feeding - hydration - mobility - transfers - positioning - comfort - sleep - elimination - and prevention of skin breakdown
• Provides a full range of personal care - nutrition - hydration - elimination - mobility - positioning - skin protection - and restorative nursing interventions for assigned Veterans
• Clinical Observations & Procedures Obtains - documents - and reports routine vital signs - weights - intake and output - blood glucose readings - specimens - and other delegated clinical observations
• immediately reports abnormal findings or changes in condition
• Performs validated procedures such as catheter and ostomy care - enemas - simple dressings - application of braces or prosthetic devices - oxygen support - suctioning or tracheostomy care when authorized and competency validated
• Safety & Infection Prevention Uses safe patient handling and mobility equipment - infection prevention practices - personal protective equipment - and fall-prevention measures according to policy and competency
• Maintains a safe environment - follows infection prevention and safe patient handling requirements - initiates basic life support or other emergency actions as appropriate
• Long-Term Care Support Supports long-term care residents by honoring preferences - routines - privacy - dignity - cultural values - and the highest practical level of independence
• Promotes autonomy - meaningful activity - continence - social engagement - and highest practical level of function
• actively contributes to interdisciplinary care planning and treatment meetings
• Rehabilitation & Restorative Care Assists sub-acute and short-stay rehabilitation Veterans with restorative activities - ambulation - transfers - range of motion - bowel and bladder training - adaptive devices - and therapy carryover as directed
• monitors tolerance and progress
• Dementia Care Provides dementia-sensitive care using calm communication - validation - redirection - de-escalation - structured routines - non-pharmacological approaches - and close observation
• follows WanderGuard/elopement-prevention procedures and reports alarms or missing-resident concerns immediately
• identifies subtle changes from baseline
• Mental Health & Behavioral Health Supports Veterans on mental health or behavioral health units through therapeutic communication - environmental safety checks - and assigned observation levels under close supervision
• promptly reports suicidal statements - escalating behavior - or risk of harm
• Implements assigned mental health observation levels and therapeutic milieu expectations
• recognizes behavioral escalation - suicide or violence risk - contraband or environmental hazards - and initiates appropriate emergency or crisis response while summoning licensed staff
• Hospice & Palliative Care Provides compassionate hospice and palliative care focused on comfort - dignity - symptom observation - oral and skin care - positioning - family support - and timely reporting of pain - distress - or changes in the dying process
• begins orienting lower-graded NAs as assigned
• Documentation & Communication Documents care and observations accurately - participates in shift report and interdisciplinary communication - maintains confidentiality - and completes mandatory training and annual competencies
• Mentorship & Professional Development Serves as preceptor/mentor - completes accurate documentation - mandatory education - and annual competency validation
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Midnight to 8:00 a.m
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentives (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave - 13 days of sick leave - 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual - based on prior [work experience] or military service experience
• Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment - up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth - adoption - or foster care placement of a child
• Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment - full time employees with a total family income below $144 -000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66
• Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 14768F - 14769F - 14770F - Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized