Nursing Assistant

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; West Haven (CT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven Campus, is seeking a Nursing Assistant to provide nursing care and related services under supervision of a Registered Nurse. Applicants must meet basic requirements and be able to perform duties in the Hospice and Rehabilitation setting.

The role supports inpatient and outpatient care, emphasizing patient comfort and safety while facilitating care plans. Experience in nursing assistance and relevant coursework are preferred, with the opportunity

Qualifications

• Six months general experience or equivalent education/training.
• One year above high school with nursing-related courses or a related program.
• Completion of a short occupation-related course may meet the experience requirement.

Responsibilities

• Carry out nursing care, clinical and technical procedures under supervision of the RN.
• Assist in executing the nurse care plan and patient care activities.
• Observe patients and report deviations to supervisors in a timely manner.
• Use equipment and supplies for basic diagnostic and treatment procedures.

Skills

Nursing care

Observation of patient status

Effective communication

Care plan support

Education

Nursing coursework (1 year or equivalent)

High school diploma or equivalent

Healthcare-related program (less than 1 year)

Job description

This announcement is for a Nursing Assistant position for the Nursing, GEC (hospice and rehab). Nursing Assistants carry out nursing care, clinical and technical procedures and ancillary services under supervision of the Registered Nurse (RN). Applicants should be fully qualified by the close of this announcement.

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 above high school with courses related to the Nursing Assistant occupation; OR
  • 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.
• English Language Proficiency: Nursing Assistants must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

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 Requirements

• Creditable Experience.
  • Knowledge of Current Practice. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with the current practice.
  • Quality of Experience. To be creditable, NA experience must be documented on the application or resume and verified in an employment reference, or through other independent means.
  • Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a NA is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a NA employed 20 hours a week, or on a 1/2-time basis, would receive 1 full time workweek of credit for each 2 weeks of service.

Grade Determinations

GS-3 Experience and Education

None beyond the basic requirements. Assignments: Individuals assigned as GS-3 are considered to be at the entry level and are closely supervised.

GS-4 Experience

One year of specialized experience as a Nursing Assistant 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.

GS-4 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.

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.

Assignment

• Individuals assigned as GS-4 are considered to be at the intermediate or developmental level and are closely supervised. At this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist higher graded, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub-acute, or chronic states of illness. The significant factor is that they provide care under close supervision and refer issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded or other healthcare professionals.
• In this role, the Nursing Assistant functions as a member of the nursing care team and assists higher graded, licensed nursing staff, and other members of the care team 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. The Nursing Assistant in this role provides care under close supervision and refers issues/questions to supervisors, higher graded, or other healthcare professionals.

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 in subparagraph below.

GS-5 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.

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 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.

Assignment

This is the full performance level for Nursing Assistants. At this grade level function as a member of the nursing care team and assist licensed nursing staff in the care of patients/residents receiving outpatient care, home or community living care or other patients/residents who are in acute, sub acute or chronic states of illness. The distinguishing factor is that patient/resident assignments typically involve more complex nursing needs which can vary within a range of predictive to unpredictable requirements. At this level also assume more of a peer education/mentorship role.

Preferred Experience

One year healthcare experience preferred; Previous hospice and/or rehab experience preferred.

References

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

Physical requirements include extensive periods of standing and walking. Duties involve strenuous physical exertion on a regular basis. Patient care activities require regular and recurring bending, lifting, stretching, pushing and similar activities using appropriate body mechanics and other assistive devices for patient and/or equipment movement and transfer. Considerable agility and dexterity are required to provide care in a proper and safe manner.