Nursing Assistant - Ambulatory Care

Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Federal health/vision/dental insurance

Life Insurance

Job summary

The VA Bronx Health Care System is seeking a highly qualified Nursing Assistant to join the Ambulatory Care Team at James J. Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx, New York.

This full-time position supports a wide range of patient care activities under RN supervision, delivering compassionate, patient-centered services. Responsibilities include assisting with assessments, documenting observations, and supporting care plans while adhering to VA standards and safety protocols.

Qualifications

• Six months of general experience or equivalent education/training
• Education: two years above high school in nursing care or related field
• And KSAs demonstrating ability to provide patient care, communicate effectively, and assist in nursing tasks

Responsibilities

• Provides direct care for veterans and supports the nursing care plan
• Observes patients for subtle changes and notifies the RN as needed
• Documents patient observations in the medical record and helps with care coordination
• Assists with prescribed treatments and activities to promote independence and recovery
• Participates in patient education and unit routines as directed by supervision

Job description

Summary

The VA Bronx Health Care System is seeking a highly qualified full-time Nursing Assistant to serve as a member of the Ambulatory Care Team located at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in Bronx New York.

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
• English Language: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - part II - chapter 3 - section A - paragraph 3j
• Experience - Education - or Training: 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 above high school with courses related to the NA occupation
• OR completion of an intensive - specialized - occupation-related course of study of less than one year which resulted in attaining certification as a nursing assistant 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: None beyond the basic requirements
• GS-4: One year of specialized experience as a nursing assistant or experience in another medical field (LPN - 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: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 of 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: 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 Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities (KSAs): In addition - the candidate must demonstrate the following 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 Vocation 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 nursing assistants by assisting with 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-03 to GS-05
• Physical Requirements: VA Handbook 5019.

Duties

• The duties include - but are not limited to: Provides direct care for complex veterans
• Makes observations of subtle changes in resident's condition - i.e
• behavior shifts - mood - skin coloring - appetite - etc
• and takes action accordingly within the Nursing Assistant's assigned role
• Responds appropriately to subtle patient changes by contacting the appropriate nursing personal
• Participates in patient centered conferences/shift reports and contributes information for the development and review of the nursing care plan
• Enters information about the residents' condition in the chart - utilizing appropriate formats
• Performing and documenting prescribed medical treatment and interventions for patients - such as diabetic urine testing and blood testing - and simple dressing changes
• Utilizes rehabilitative principles to promote patient independence and recovery - encouraging and guiding patient/residents in bowel and bladder training
• Engages in-group activities such as off-station trips - reality orientation - current events and other therapeutic groups with direction and close supervision
• Monitors patients according to levels of observations i.e
• (one to one suicide - continuous observation -15 minute checks - and hourly rounding
• Reports patient status to the RN and documents pertinent observations in the medical record according to established procedures
• Sets up patient care related equipment - such as hypothermia machines - oxygen delivery systems - portable and wall suction and assisting in monitoring proper functioning of equipment
• Utilizes glucose monitoring machine to collect glucose values on veterans when needed and refer deviations to appropriate nursing staff or other health care provider
• Organizes and obtains routine supplies and equipment
• Assists with patient education including orienting patient/family to unit routines and policies
• Additional duties as assigned
• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional Work Schedule: Full-Time - 7:30am-4:0pm 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) 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 #: 21Z87A Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized