Nursing Assistant (Acute Care)

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Wilkes-Barre (Luzerne County); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking a Nursing Assistant to join Acute Care as part of the nursing care team. The NA assists licensed staff, mentors peers, and may serve as a peer educator. Applicants may be tentatively selected pending licensure/certification requirements.

The role requires ability to refer questions to supervisors and carry out tasks with complex nursing needs, supporting patient care across sub-acute, chronic, maintenance and hospice settings.

Qualifications

• NAs must be able to provide a range of patient care and assist licensed staff.
• Strong communication with patients, families, and health professionals.
• Ability to observe patient condition and refer deviations to supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Assist licensed nursing staff and other care team members.
• Refer questions and issues to supervisors or higher-graded NAs.
• Serve as a peer educator or mentor to others in nursing care.

Skills

Nursing care

Patient communication

Observation of patient status

Mentoring/Precepting

Education

Two years of college with health-related courses

Bachelor’s degree in health care field

Job description

The Nursing Assistant works in Acute Care and will serve as a member of the nursing care team and provide assistance to licensed nursing staff and other members of the care team in the care of sub-acute, chronic, maintenance and hospice care. The incumbent will be expected to refer questions and issues to supervisors or higher-graded nursing assistants and carry out assignments that involve complex nursing needs, as well as serve as a peer educator or mentor. 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.
• English Language Proficiency. NAs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005, part II, chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3j.

Experience or Education or Training.

(1) [Six months of general experience. Experience must demonstrate the ability to acquire the knowledge and skills to perform the work of a NA; OR,

(2) One year of education above high school with courses related to the NA occupation; OR,

(3) 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 NA (Entry Level)

Experience and Education. None beyond the basic requirements.

GS-4 NA

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). In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs:

• i Ability to provide a range of patient/resident care and contribute to the completion of the nurse care plan and recovery of patients/residents.
• ii Ability to observe patients/residents' or resident's physical or emotional status and refer deviations and/or problems to supervisor in a timely manner.
• iii 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.
• iv Ability to communicate effectively with patients/residents, their families and other health professionals.

GS-5 NA (Full Performance Level)

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 KSAs

• i 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.
• ii 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.
• iii 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.

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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-5. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-3 to GS-5.

Physical Requirements:

You will be asked You will be asked to participate in a pre-employment evaluation as part of the pre-employment process for this position. Questions about physical demands or environmental factors may be addressed at the time of evaluation.